Modified supported chromium catalysts and ethylene-based polymers produced therefrom

ABSTRACT

Supported chromium catalysts with an average valence less than +6 and having a hydrocarbon-containing or halogenated hydrocarbon-containing ligand attached to at least one bonding site on the chromium are disclosed, as well as ethylene-based polymers with terminal alkane, aromatic, or halogenated hydrocarbon chain ends. Another ethylene polymer characterized by at least 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol and at least 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol is provided, as well as an ethylene homopolymer with at least 3.5 methyl short chain branches and less than 0.6 butyl short chain branches per 1000 total carbon atoms.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/737,150, filed on May 5, 2022, which is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/571,228, filed on Sep. 16, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,376,575, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/732,020, filed on Sep. 17, 2018, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This application also is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/167,129, filed on Feb. 10, 2023.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to supported chromium catalysts and to ethylene polymers produced therefrom, and more particularly, relates to catalysts with a hydrocarbon group attached to the chromium and to the unique polymer features that result from using such catalysts in ethylene-based polymerizations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chromium catalysts are among the most common catalysts used in olefin polymerizations. Supported chromium catalysts often are prepared by impregnating chromium onto a solid support, e.g., a solid oxide, followed by a calcining step. Generally, calcining is conducted in an oxidizing atmosphere, such that the chromium species within the supported chromium catalyst can be converted to hexavalent chromium.

The present invention is generally directed to reducing the supported chromium catalyst to an average oxidation state less than +6, and using the reduced catalyst to polymerize olefins, such as ethylene alone or with an alpha-olefin comonomer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify required or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this summary intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A supported chromium catalyst is provided in one aspect of this invention, and in this aspect, the supported chromium catalyst can comprise a solid support, and from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. % chromium (based on the weight of the catalyst). The chromium has an average valence of less than or equal to about 5.25, and at least one bonding site on the chromium has a ligand characterized by one of the following formulas: —O-Hydrocarbon group or —O-Halogenated hydrocarbon group. The solid support can comprise a solid oxide (e.g., silica or silica-titania), a chemically-treated solid oxide (e.g., sulfated alumina or fluorided silica-coated alumina), or a zeolite (e.g., a medium pore zeolite or a large pore zeolite, often with a binder).

An ethylene polymer is provided in another aspect of this invention, and in this aspect, the ethylene polymer can be characterized by a Mw in a range from about 100,000 to about 400,000 g/mol, at least about 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol, and at least about 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol. Such ethylene polymers have relatively broad molecular weight distributions, often with ratios of Mw/Mn ranging from 30 to 80.

An ethylene homopolymer is provided in yet another aspect of this invention, and in this aspect, the ethylene homopolymer can have a number of methyl short chain branches (SCB's) in a range from about 3.5 to about 15 per 1000 total carbon atoms, a number of butyl SCB's of less than or equal to about 0.6 per 1000 total carbon atoms, and a ratio of Mw/Mn in a range from about 4 to about 10. The average molecular weight is not particularly limited, but typically Mw ranges from about 30,000 to about 200,000 g/mol. Due to the relatively high branch content, despite the lack of comonomer, the density can be below 0.945 g/cm³, below 0.94 g/cm³, or below 0.935 g/cm³.

An ethylene polymer is provided in still another aspect of this invention, and in this aspect, the ethylene polymer can comprise a terminal branched alkane group, a terminal cyclic alkane group, a terminal aromatic group, or a terminal halogenated hydrocarbon group. Thus, the chain end can be a moiety not found in traditional ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene/α-olefin copolymerization. For instance, the terminal group or chain end can be a cyclic alkane group or an aromatic group, such as benzene or toluene.

Both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description provide examples and are explanatory only. Accordingly, the foregoing summary and the following detailed description should not be considered to be restrictive. Further, features or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, certain aspects may be directed to various feature combinations and sub-combinations described in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 presents an illustration of a chromium catalyst with a bonding site for a hydrocarbon group, and representative polymer chains incorporating the hydrocarbon group as a chain end.

FIG. 2 presents a plot of the range of wavelengths emitted from red, blue, and violet LED diodes used to irradiate the supported chromium catalyst of Example 27.

FIG. 3 present a plot of the IR reflectance of a Cr/silica catalyst of Example 28 calcined at 650° C.

FIG. 4 presents a plot of the molecular weight distributions of the polymers of Examples 88-89 and 93-94.

DEFINITIONS

To define more clearly the terms used herein, the following definitions are provided. Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions are applicable to this disclosure. If a term is used in this disclosure but is not specifically defined herein, the definition from the IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2^(nd) Ed (1997), can be applied, as long as that definition does not conflict with any other disclosure or definition applied herein, or render indefinite or non-enabled any claim to which that definition is applied. To the extent that any definition or usage provided by any document incorporated herein by reference conflicts with the definition or usage provided herein, the definition or usage provided herein controls.

Herein, features of the subject matter are described such that, within particular aspects, a combination of different features can be envisioned. For each and every aspect and each and every feature disclosed herein, all combinations that do not detrimentally affect the catalysts, compositions, processes, or methods described herein are contemplated with or without explicit description of the particular combination. Additionally, unless explicitly recited otherwise, any aspect or feature disclosed herein can be combined to describe inventive catalysts, compositions, processes, or methods consistent with the present disclosure.

Generally, groups of elements are indicated using the numbering scheme indicated in the version of the periodic table of elements published in Chemical and Engineering News, 63(5), 27, 1985. In some instances, a group of elements can be indicated using a common name assigned to the group; for example, alkali metals for Group 1 elements, alkaline earth metals for Group 2 elements, transition metals for Group 3-12 elements, and halogens or halides for Group 17 elements.

The term “hydrocarbon” whenever used in this specification and claims refers to a group or compound containing only carbon and hydrogen, whether saturated or unsaturated. Other identifiers can be utilized to indicate the presence of particular groups in the hydrocarbon (e.g., halogenated hydrocarbon indicates the presence of one or more halogen atoms replacing an equivalent number of hydrogen atoms in the hydrocarbon). Non-limiting examples of hydrocarbons include alkanes (linear, branched, and cyclic), alkenes (olefins), and aromatics, among others.

For any particular compound or group disclosed herein, any name or structure (general or specific) presented is intended to encompass all conformational isomers, regioisomers, stereoisomers, and mixtures thereof that can arise from a particular set of substituents, unless otherwise specified. The name or structure (general or specific) also encompasses all enantiomers, diastereomers, and other optical isomers (if there are any) whether in enantiomeric or racemic forms, as well as mixtures of stereoisomers, as would be recognized by a skilled artisan, unless otherwise specified. For instance, a general reference to pentane includes n-pentane, 2-methyl-butane, and 2,2-dimethylpropane; and a general reference to a butyl group includes a n-butyl group, a sec-butyl group, an iso-butyl group, and a t-butyl group.

Unless otherwise specified, the term “substituted” when used to describe a group, for example, when referring to a substituted analog of a particular group, is intended to describe any non-hydrogen moiety that formally replaces a hydrogen in that group, and is intended to be non-limiting. Also, unless otherwise specified, a group or groups can also be referred to herein as “unsubstituted” or by equivalent terms such as “non-substituted,” which refers to the original group in which a non-hydrogen moiety does not replace a hydrogen within that group. Moreover, unless otherwise specified, “substituted” is intended to be non-limiting and include inorganic substituents or organic substituents as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The terms “contacting” and “combining” are used herein to describe catalysts, compositions, processes, and methods in which the materials or components are contacted or combined together in any order, in any manner, and for any length of time, unless otherwise specified. For example, the materials or components can be blended, mixed, slurried, dissolved, reacted, treated, impregnated, compounded, or otherwise contacted or combined in some other manner or by any suitable method or technique.

In this disclosure, while catalysts, compositions, processes, and methods are described in terms of “comprising” various components or steps, the catalysts, compositions, processes, and methods also can “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components or steps, unless stated otherwise.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include plural alternatives, e.g., at least one. For instance, the disclosure of “a reductant,” “a solid oxide,” etc., is meant to encompass one, or mixtures or combinations of more than one, reductant, solid oxide, etc., unless otherwise specified.

The term “polymer” is used herein generically to include olefin homopolymers, copolymers, terpolymers, and the like, as well as alloys and blends thereof. The term “polymer” also includes impact, block, graft, random, and alternating copolymers. A copolymer can be derived from an olefin monomer and one olefin comonomer, while a terpolymer can be derived from an olefin monomer and two olefin comonomers. Accordingly, “polymer” encompasses copolymers and terpolymers. Similarly, the scope of the term “polymerization” includes homopolymerization, copolymerization, and terpolymerization. Therefore, an ethylene polymer would include ethylene homopolymers, ethylene copolymers (e.g., ethylene/α-olefin copolymers), ethylene terpolymers, and the like, as well as blends or mixtures thereof. Thus, an ethylene polymer encompasses polymers often referred to in the art as LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene) and HDPE (high density polyethylene). As an example, an ethylene copolymer can be derived from ethylene and a comonomer, such as 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene. If the monomer and comonomer were ethylene and 1-hexene, respectively, the resulting polymer can be categorized an as ethylene/1-hexene copolymer. The term “polymer” also includes all possible geometrical configurations, if present and unless stated otherwise, and such configurations can include isotactic, syndiotactic, and random symmetries.

Herein, ethylene polymers also encompass ethylene-based polymers having non-traditional terminal groups or chain ends. Traditional terminal groups or chain ends include those that typically result (e.g., saturated methyl chain ends, vinyl chain ends) from the polymerization of ethylene, either alone or with alpha-olefin comonomers, such as 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene. Non-traditional terminal groups or chain ends encompassed herein can include various branched alkane, cyclic alkane, aromatic, and halogenated hydrocarbon groups.

Several types of ranges are disclosed in the present invention. When a range of any type is disclosed or claimed, the intent is to disclose or claim individually each possible number that such a range could reasonably encompass, including end points of the range as well as any sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges encompassed therein. For example, when a chemical compound having a certain number of carbon atoms is disclosed or claimed, the intent is to disclose or claim individually every possible number that such a range could encompass, consistent with the disclosure herein. For example, the disclosure of a C₁ to C₁₈ halogenated hydrocarbon group, or in alternative language, a halogenated hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, as used herein, refers to a group that can have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 carbon atoms, as well as any range between these two numbers (for example, a C₁ to C₈ halogenated hydrocarbon group), and also including any combination of ranges between these two numbers (for example, a C₂ to C₄ and a C₁₂ to C₁₆ halogenated hydrocarbon group).

Similarly, another representative example follows for the amount of chromium contained in the supported catalyst. By a disclosure that the amount of chromium can be in a range from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. %, the intent is to recite that the amount of chromium can be any amount in the range and, for example, can be equal to about 0.1, about 0.2, about 0.3, about 0.4, about 0.5, about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, about 0.9, about 1, about 2, about 3, about 4, about 5, about 6, about 7, about 8, about 9, about 10, about 11, about 12, about 13, about 14, or about 15 wt. %. Additionally, the amount of chromium can be within any range from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. % (for example, from about 0.1 to about 5 wt. %), and this also includes any combination of ranges between about 0.1 and about 15 wt. % (for example, the amount of chromium can be in a range from about 0.5 to about 2.5 wt. %, or from about 5 to about 15 wt. %). Further, in all instances, where “about” a particular value is disclosed, then that value itself is disclosed. Thus, the disclosure that the amount of chromium can be from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. % also discloses an amount of chromium from 0.1 to 15 wt. % (for example, from 0.1 to 5 wt. %), and this also includes any combination of ranges between 0.1 and 15 wt. % (for example, the amount of chromium can be in a range from 0.5 to 2.5 wt. %, or from 5 to 15 wt. %). Likewise, all other ranges disclosed herein should be interpreted in a manner similar to these examples.

The term “about” means that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but can be approximate including being larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement errors, and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art. In general, an amount, size, formulation, parameter or other quantity or characteristic is “about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such. The term “about” also encompasses amounts that differ due to different equilibrium conditions for a composition resulting from a particular initial mixture. Whether or not modified by the term “about,” the claims include equivalents to the quantities. The term “about” can mean within 10% of the reported numerical value, and often within 5% of the reported numerical value.

Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the typical methods, devices, and materials are herein described.

All publications and patents mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the constructs and methodologies that are described in the publications, which might be used in connection with the presently described invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A hexavalent chromium catalyst can be converted into the divalent form by reduction in CO at elevated temperatures, for instance, at 200-800° C. The reduced catalyst then can be treated with an adjuvant hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon compound, which can be an alkane (linear or branched), a cycloalkane, or an aromatic. It is believed that the adjuvant compound forms a hydrocarbon-containing ligand on the modified catalyst, and when used in an olefin polymerization, the polymerization begins with and incorporates the hydrocarbon moiety from the modified catalyst as the first terminal group or chain end.

A hexavalent chromium catalyst can be reduced to an average valence of less than +6 in the presence of a suitable light source and hydrocarbon reductant. It is believed that the reductant compound forms a hydrocarbon-containing ligand on the modified catalyst, and when used in an olefin polymerization, the polymerization begins with and incorporates the hydrocarbon moiety from the modified catalyst as the first terminal group or chain end. FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the chromium catalyst with a bonding site for the hydrocarbon group, and representative polymer chains incorporating the hydrocarbon group as a chain end.

Ethylene Polymers

Generally, the polymers disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers, or ethylene polymers, encompassing homopolymers of ethylene as well as copolymers, terpolymers, etc., of ethylene and at least one olefin comonomer. Comonomers that can be copolymerized with ethylene often can have from 3 to 20 carbon atoms in their molecular chain. For example, typical comonomers can include, but are not limited to, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, and the like, or combinations thereof. In an aspect, the olefin comonomer can comprise a C₃-C₁₈ olefin; alternatively, the olefin comonomer can comprise a C₃-C₁₀ olefin; alternatively, the olefin comonomer can comprise a C₄-C₁₀ olefin; alternatively, the olefin comonomer can comprise a C₃-C₁₀ α-olefin; alternatively, the olefin comonomer can comprise a C₄-C₁₀ α-olefin; alternatively, the olefin comonomer can comprise 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, or any combination thereof; or alternatively, the comonomer can comprise 1-hexene. Typically, the amount of the comonomer, based on the total weight of monomer (ethylene) and comonomer, can be in a range from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. %, from about 0.1 to about 10 wt. %, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt. %, from about 0.5 to about 8 wt. %, or from about 1 to about 15 wt. %.

In one aspect, the ethylene polymer of this invention can comprise an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer, while in another aspect, the ethylene polymer can comprise an ethylene homopolymer, and in yet another aspect, the ethylene polymer of this invention can comprise an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer and an ethylene homopolymer. For example, the ethylene polymer can comprise an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, an ethylene/1-octene copolymer, an ethylene homopolymer, or any combination thereof; alternatively, an ethylene homopolymer; alternatively, an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, an ethylene/1-octene copolymer, or any combination thereof; or alternatively, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer.

An illustrative and non-limiting example of a first ethylene polymer (e.g., comprising an ethylene homopolymer and/or an ethylene copolymer) consistent with the present invention can have a Mw in a range from about 100,000 to about 400,000 g/mol, at least about 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol, and at least about 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol. Another illustrative and non-limiting example of a second ethylene homopolymer consistent with the present invention can have a number of methyl short chain branches (SCB's) in a range from about 3.5 to about 15 per 1000 total carbon atoms, a number of butyl SCB's of less than or equal to about 0.6 per 1000 total carbon atoms, and a ratio of Mw/Mn in a range from about 4 to about 10. Yet another illustrative and non-limiting example of a third ethylene polymer (e.g., comprising an ethylene homopolymer and/or an ethylene copolymer) consistent with the present invention can comprise a terminal branched alkane group, a terminal cyclic alkane group, a terminal aromatic group, or a terminal halogenated hydrocarbon group.

Referring now to the first ethylene polymer, which can be characterized by a Mw in a range from about 100,000 to about 400,000 g/mol, at least about 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol, and at least about 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol. This polymer, unexpectedly, has a relatively large fraction of the polymer with very low molecular weights (less than 1000 g/mol) in combination with a relatively large fraction of the polymer with very high molecular weights (greater than 1,000,000 g/mol).

In an aspect, the Mw of the first ethylene polymer often can range from about 100,000 to about 300,000 g/mol, from about 150,000 to about 400,000 g/mol, from about 200,000 to about 400,000 g/mol, or from about 200,000 to about 300,000 g/mol. Additionally or alternatively, the first ethylene polymer can have a Mn from about 3,000 to about 10,000 g/mol in one aspect, from about 4,000 to about 9,000 g/mol in another aspect, from about 4,000 to about 8,000 g/mol in another aspect, from about 4,000 to about 7,000 g/mol in yet another aspects, and from about 5,000 to about 6,000 g/mol in still another aspect. Additionally or alternatively, the first ethylene polymer can have a Mz in a range from about 1,500,000 to about 4,000,000 g/mol, from about 2,000,000 to about 3,500,000 g/mol, or from about 2,000,000 to about 3,000,000 g/mol. Additionally or alternatively, the first ethylene polymer can have a Mp (peak molecular weight) at a relatively low molecular weight, such as from about 10,000 to about 60,000 g/mol, from about 10,000 to about 50,000 g/mol, from about 10,000 to about 40,000 g/mol, or from about 15,000 to about 30,000 g/mol.

Consistent with the first polymer having a relatively large fraction of the polymer with very low molecular weights (less than 1000 g/mol) in combination with a relatively large fraction of the polymer with very high molecular weights (greater than 1,000,000 g/mol), the first ethylene polymer has a very broad molecular weight distribution, as reflected by the ratio of Mw/Mn. While not limited thereto, the first ethylene polymer can have a ratio of Mw/Mn from about 30 to about 80, from about 35 to about 75, from about 35 to about 60, from about 40 to about 55, or from about 45 to about 50. The ratio of Mz/Mw of the first ethylene polymer is not nearly as large, and typically falls in one or more of the following ranges: from about 6 to about 13, from about 8 to about 11, from about 8.5 to about 10.5, and/or from about 9 to about 10.

At least about 2 wt. % of the first ethylene polymer can have a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol. Illustrative and non-limiting ranges for the amount of the first ethylene polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol include from about 2 to about 10 wt. %, from about 3 to about 10 wt. %, from about 4 to about 9 wt. %, from about 5 to about 9 wt. %, or from about 5 to about 8 wt. %, and the like. Also indicative of the relatively large “high molecular weight fraction” of the first ethylene polymer is the highest molecular weight detected (using the analytical test described herein), which is at least about 5,000,000 g/mol, at least about 6,000,000 g/mol, at least about 7,000,000 g/mol, or at least about 8,000,000 g/mol.

At least about 1.5 wt. % of the first ethylene polymer can have a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol. Illustrative and non-limiting ranges for the amount of the first ethylene polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol include from about 1.5 to about 8 wt. %, from about 2 to about 7 wt. %, from about 3 to about 6 wt. %, from about 3.5 to about 5 wt. %, or from about 4 to about 4.5 wt. %, and the like. Also indicative of the relatively large “low molecular weight fraction” of the first ethylene polymer is the amount of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 3162 g/mol, which often ranges from about 8 to about 20 wt. %, from about 10 to about 20 wt. %, from about 12 to about 18 wt. %, from about 13 to about 17 wt. %, or from about 14 to about 16 wt. % of the polymer.

Notwithstanding the relatively large fraction of the polymer with very low molecular weights in combination with a relatively large fraction of the polymer with very high molecular weights, a majority of the polymer often resides in the 10,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol range of molecular weight. While not limited thereto, from about 53 to about 73 wt. %, from about 55 to about 70 wt. %, from about 58 to about 68 wt. %, or from about 61 to about 65 wt. %, of the first ethylene polymer has a molecular weight in the 10,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol range.

Referring now to the second ethylene polymer, in this case an ethylene homopolymer, which can be characterized by a number of methyl short chain branches (SCB's) in a range from about 3.5 to about 15 per 1000 total carbon atoms, a number of butyl SCB's of less than or equal to about 0.6 per 1000 total carbon atoms, and a ratio of Mw/Mn in a range from about 4 to about 10. This second ethylene homopolymer has a surprising combination of a relatively large amount of methyl branches along with a relatively small amount of butyl branches.

In some aspects, the number of methyl SCB's of the second ethylene homopolymer can range from about 3.5 to about 12, from about 3.5 to about 10.5, from about 4 to about 12, from about 4 to about 10, from about 4.5 to about 10, or from about 5 to about 10 methyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms. Additionally or alternatively, the number of butyl SCB's of the homopolymer can be less than or equal to about 0.5, less than or equal to about 0.4, less than or equal to about 0.3, or less than or equal to about 0.2 butyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms.

The molecular weight distribution of the second ethylene homopolymer, as reflected by the ratio of Mw/Mn, typically ranges from about 4 to about 10, but in some aspects, can range from about 4 to about 9, from about 4 to about 8.5, or from about 4 to about 8, while in other aspects, the ratio of Mw/Mn of the homopolymer ranges from about 4.5 to about 10, from about 4.5 to about 8.5, or from about 5 to about 9. The ratio of Mz/Mw of the ethylene homopolymer is not particularly limited, but often can range from about 2.5 to about 7; alternatively, from about 2.5 to about 6; alternatively, from about 3 to about 7; or alternatively, from about 3 to about 6.

The second ethylene homopolymer can encompass a broad range of molecular weights, such as having a Mw in a range from about 30,000 to about 200,000 g/mol in one aspect, from about 30,000 to about 140,000 g/mol in another aspect, from about 35,000 to about 150,000 g/mol in yet another aspect, and from about 40,000 to about 135,000 g/mol in still another aspect.

Unexpectedly, the homopolymer disclosed herein also can be characterized by a ratio of vinyl chain ends to saturated chain ends (vinyl/saturated) per 1000 total carbon atoms that is less than or equal to about 1. In further aspects, the vinyl/saturated ratio can be less than or equal to about 0.5; alternatively, less than or equal to about 0.3; or alternatively, less than or equal to about 0.1. While not being limited thereto, the homopolymer can further have a number of ethyl SCB's from about 0.8 to about 5, from about 1 to about 5, from about 0.8 to about 4, from about 1 to about 4, from about 0.8 to about 3.5, from about 1 to about 3.5, or from about 1.5 to about 3.5 ethyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms.

The significant branching of the second ethylene homopolymer suppresses the density, and therefore, densities in the range of from about 0.93 to about 0.96 g/cm³ are achievable. Representative ranges for the homopolymer density include from about 0.93 to about 0.955 g/cm³, from about 0.935 to about 0.955 g/cm³, from about 0.935 to about 0.950 g/cm³, from about 0.938 to about 0.948 g/cm³, and the like.

Referring now to the third ethylene polymer, which can comprise a terminal branched alkane group, a terminal cyclic alkane group, a terminal aromatic group, or a terminal halogenated hydrocarbon group. Thus, instead of traditional methyl and vinyl chain ends, the third ethylene polymer—unexpectedly—can contain a chain end that is a branched alkane group, a cyclic alkane group, an aromatic group, or a halogenated hydrocarbon group. The chemical “groups” described herein—such as alkane groups and aromatic groups—are general terms to encompass a variety of groups in which any number (“one or more”) hydrogen atoms are removed, as necessary for the situation and to conform with the rules of chemical valence. For instance, an illustrative cyclic alkane group is a cyclohexane group, which encompasses moieties in which any number of hydrogen atoms are removed from a cyclohexane, such as a cyclohexyl group.

The bulk polymer is not particularly limited, and in one aspect, the third ethylene polymer can comprise an ethylene homopolymer, while in another aspect, the third ethylene polymer can comprise an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer, and in yet another aspect, the third ethylene polymer can comprise an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and/or an ethylene/1-octene copolymer, and in still another aspect, the third ethylene polymer can comprise an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer.

The branched alkane group which can be the terminal group or the chain end is not particularly limited, and can be any suitable carbon number branched alkane group, such as a C₄ to C₃₆ branched alkane group, a C₄ to C₁₈ branched alkane group, a C₁₀ to C₃₆ branched alkane group, or a C₁₀ to C₃₆ branched alkane group. Illustrative branched alkane groups include neopentane, iso-pentane, iso-octane, and the like.

Likewise, the cyclic alkane group is not particularly limited, and any carbon number cyclic alkane group can be the terminal group or chain end of the third ethylene polymer. For instance, C₄ to C₃₆ cyclic alkane groups, C₄ to C₁₈ cyclic alkane groups, C₆ to C₁₈ cyclic alkane groups, and C₆ to C₁₀ cyclic alkane groups are contemplated herein, and specific non-limiting examples include cyclobutane, cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cyclooctane, and the like.

Similarly, the aromatic group which can be the terminal group or the chain end is not particularly limited, and any suitable carbon number aromatic group is encompassed herein. Representative non-limiting examples include a benzene group, a toluene group, an ethylbenzene group, a xylene group, a mesitylene group, and the like.

Additionally, the halogenated hydrocarbon group is not particularly limited, and any carbon number halogenated hydrocarbon group can be the terminal group or chain end of the third ethylene polymer. For instance, C₁ to C₃₆ halogenated hydrocarbon groups, C₁ to C₁₈ halogenated hydrocarbon groups, C₁ to C₁₂ halogenated hydrocarbon groups, or C₁ to C₈ halogenated hydrocarbon groups can present at the terminal end of the third ethylene polymer, and a non-limiting example of such halogenated hydrocarbon groups is tetrafluoroethane.

If not already specified, the first ethylene polymer, the second ethylene polymer, and the third ethylene polymer consistent with the present invention also can have any of the polymer properties listed below and in any combination.

Ethylene polymers (e.g., ethylene homopolymers and/or copolymers) produced in accordance with some aspects of this invention generally can have a melt index (MI) from 0 to about 100 g/10 min. Melt indices in the range from 0 to about 50 g/10 min, from 0 to about 25 g/10 min, or from 0 to about 10 g/10 min, are contemplated in other aspects of this invention. For example, a polymer of the present invention can have a melt index in a range from 0 to about 5, from 0 to about 3, from 0 to about 1, or from 0 to about 0.5 g/10 min.

Ethylene polymers produced in accordance with some aspects of this invention can have a high load melt index (HLMI) of less than or equal to about 200, less than or equal to about 150, or less than or equal to about 100 g/10 min. Suitable ranges for the HLMI can include, but are not limited to, from 0 to about 150, from about 2 to about 120, from about 1 to about 100, from about 1 to about 80, from about 2 to about 80, from about 4 to about 60, from about 8 to about 60, from about 1 to about 50, from about 4 to about 50, from about 3 to about 40, or from about 6 to about 40 g/10 min.

The densities of ethylene polymers produced using the chromium catalysts and the processes disclosed herein often are greater than or equal to about 0.89 g/cm³. In one aspect of this invention, the density of the olefin polymer can be in a range from about 0.89 to about 0.96 g/cm³. Yet, in another aspect, the density can be in a range from about 0.91 to about 0.95 g/cm³, such as, for example, from about 0.91 to about 0.94 g/cm³, from about 0.92 to about 0.955 g/cm³, or from about 0.93 to about 0.955 g/cm³.

In an aspect, ethylene polymers described herein can have a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) in a range from about 50,000 to about 2,000,000, from about 50,000 to about 1,000,000, from about 50,000 to about 700,000, from about 75,000 to about 500,000, from about 100,000 to about 500,000, from about 100,000 to about 400,000, or from about 150,000 to about 300,000 g/mol. Additionally or alternatively, ethylene polymers described herein can have a number-average molecular weight (Mn) in a range from about 2,000 to about 250,000, from about 2,000 to about 100,000, from about 2,000 to about 50,000, from about 5,000 to about 200,000, from about 5,000 to about 150,000, or from about 5,000 to about 50,000 g/mol. In another aspect, ethylene polymers described herein can have a Mn in a range from about 10,000 to about 100,000, from about 10,000 to about 75,000, from about 25,000 to about 150,000, or from about 50,000 to about 150,000 g/mol.

Ethylene copolymers, for example, produced using the polymerization processes and catalysts described herein can, in some aspects, have a decreasing comonomer distribution, generally, the higher molecular weight components of the polymer have less comonomer incorporation than the lower molecular weight components. In one aspect, the number of short chain branches (SCB's) per 1000 total carbon atoms of the polymer can be less at Mw than at Mn. In another aspect, the number of SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms of the polymer can be less at Mz than at Mw. In yet another aspect, the number of SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms of the polymer can be less at Mz than at Mn.

The first ethylene polymer, the second ethylene polymer, and the third ethylene polymer can be produced with chromium-based catalysts. Therefore, these ethylene polymers can contain no measurable amount of nickel or iron (catalyst residue), i.e., less than 0.1 ppm by weight. In some aspects, the ethylene polymer can contain, independently, less than 0.08 ppm, less than 0.05 ppm, or less than 0.03 ppm, of nickel and iron. Moreover, metallocene and Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems are not required. Therefore, the ethylene polymers can contain no measurable amount of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium (catalyst residue), i.e., less than 0.1 ppm by weight. In some aspects, the ethylene polymer can contain, independently, less than 0.08 ppm, less than 0.05 ppm, or less than 0.03 ppm, of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium.

Articles of manufacture can be formed from, and/or can comprise, the first, second, and third ethylene polymers of this invention and, accordingly, are encompassed herein. For example, articles which can comprise the polymers of this invention can include, but are not limited to, an agricultural film, an automobile part, a bottle, a container for chemicals, a drum, a fiber or fabric, a food packaging film or container, a food service article, a fuel tank, a geomembrane, a household container, a liner, a molded product, a medical device or material, an outdoor storage product, outdoor play equipment, a pipe, a sheet or tape, a toy, or a traffic barrier, and the like. Various processes can be employed to form these articles. Non-limiting examples of these processes include injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, film extrusion, sheet extrusion, profile extrusion, thermoforming, and the like. Additionally, additives and modifiers often are added to these polymers in order to provide beneficial polymer processing or end-use product attributes. Such processes and materials are described in Modern Plastics Encyclopedia, Mid-November 1995 Issue, Vol. 72, No. 12; and Film Extrusion Manual—Process, Materials, Properties, TAPPI Press, 1992; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In some aspects of this invention, an article of manufacture can comprise any of the ethylene polymers described herein, and the article of manufacture can be or can comprise a pipe, a molded product (e.g., blow molded), or a film (e.g., a blown film). Typical additives that can be present in the ethylene polymer and/or the article of manufacture include antioxidants, acid scavengers, antiblock additives, slip additives, colorants, fillers, processing aids, UV inhibitors, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Chromium Catalysts

Aspects of this invention are directed to supported chromium catalysts, and such catalysts can comprise a solid support, and from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. % chromium, based on the weight of the catalyst. The chromium can have an average valence of less than or equal to about 5.25, and at least one bonding site on the chromium can have a ligand characterized by one of the following formulas: —O-Hydrocarbon group or —O-Halogenated hydrocarbon group.

Various solid supports can be used for the supported chromium catalyst, such as conventional solid oxides and zeolites. Generally, the solid oxide can comprise oxygen and one or more elements selected from Group 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15 of the periodic table, or comprise oxygen and one or more elements selected from the lanthanide or actinide elements (See: Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11^(th) Ed., John Wiley & Sons, 1995; Cotton, F. A., Wilkinson, G., Murillo, C. A., and Bochmann, M., Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, 6^(th) Ed., Wiley-Interscience, 1999). For example, the solid oxide can comprise oxygen and an element, or elements, selected from Al, B, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, La, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, V, W, P, Y, Zn, and Zr. Illustrative examples of solid oxide materials or compounds that can be used as solid support can include, but are not limited to, Al₂O₃, B₂O₃, BeO, Bi₂O₃, CdO, Co₃O₄, Cr₂O₃, CuO, Fe₂O₃, Ga₂O₃, La₂O₃, Mn₂O₃, MoO₃, NiO, P₂O₅, Sb₂O₅, SiO₂, SnO₂, SrO, ThO₂, TiO₂, V₂O₅, WO₃, Y₂O₃, ZnO, ZrO₂, and the like, including mixed oxides thereof, and combinations thereof.

The solid oxide can encompass oxide materials such as silica, “mixed oxide” compounds thereof such as silica-titania, and combinations or mixtures of more than one solid oxide material. Mixed oxides such as silica-titania can be single or multiple chemical phases with more than one metal combined with oxygen to form the solid oxide. Examples of mixed oxides that can be used as solid oxide include, but are not limited to, silica-alumina, silica-coated alumina, silica-titania, silica-zirconia, alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, zinc-aluminate, alumina-boria, silica-boria, aluminum phosphate, aluminophosphate, aluminophosphate-silica, titania-zirconia, and the like, or a combination thereof. In some aspects, the solid support can comprise silica, silica-alumina, silica-coated alumina, silica-titania, silica-titania-magnesia, silica-zirconia, silica-magnesia, silica-boria, aluminophosphate-silica, and the like, or any combination thereof. Silica-coated aluminas are encompassed herein; such oxide materials are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,884,163 and 9,023,959, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The percentage of each oxide in a mixed oxide can vary depending upon the respective oxide materials. As an example, a silica-alumina (or silica-coated alumina) typically has an alumina content from 5 wt. % to 95 wt. %. According to one aspect, the alumina content of the silica-alumina (or silica-coated alumina) can be from 5 wt. % alumina 50 wt. % alumina, or from 8 wt. % to 30 wt. % alumina. In another aspect, high alumina content silica-aluminas (or silica-coated aluminas) can be employed, in which the alumina content of these materials typically ranges from 60 wt. % alumina to 90 wt. % alumina, or from 65 wt. % alumina to 80 wt. % alumina.

In one aspect, the solid oxide can comprise silica-alumina, silica-coated alumina, silica-titania, silica-zirconia, alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, zinc-aluminate, alumina-boria, silica-boria, aluminum phosphate, aluminophosphate, aluminophosphate-silica, titania-zirconia, or a combination thereof; alternatively, silica-alumina; alternatively, silica-coated alumina; alternatively, silica-titania; alternatively, silica-zirconia; alternatively, alumina-titania; alternatively, alumina-zirconia; alternatively, zinc-aluminate; alternatively, alumina-boria; alternatively, silica-boria; alternatively, aluminum phosphate; alternatively, aluminophosphate; alternatively, aluminophosphate-silica; or alternatively, titania-zirconia.

In another aspect, the solid oxide can comprise silica, alumina, titania, thoria, stania, zirconia, magnesia, boria, zinc oxide, a mixed oxide thereof, or any mixture thereof. In yet another aspect, the solid support can comprise silica, alumina, titania, or a combination thereof; alternatively, silica; alternatively, alumina; alternatively, titania; alternatively, zirconia; alternatively, magnesia; alternatively, boria; or alternatively, zinc oxide. In still another aspect, the solid oxide can comprise silica, alumina, silica-alumina, silica-coated alumina, aluminum phosphate, aluminophosphate, heteropolytungstate, titania, zirconia, magnesia, boria, zinc oxide, silica-titania, silica-yttria, silica-zirconia, alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, zinc-aluminate, alumina-boria, silica-boria, aluminophosphate-silica, titania-zirconia, and the like, or any combination thereof.

Consistent with certain aspects of this invention, the catalyst can comprise a chemically-treated solid oxide as the support, and where the chemically-treated solid oxide comprises a solid oxide (any solid oxide disclosed herein) treated with an electron-withdrawing anion (any electron withdrawing anion disclosed herein). The electron-withdrawing component used to treat the solid oxide can be any component that increases the Lewis or Brønsted acidity of the solid oxide upon treatment (as compared to the solid oxide that is not treated with at least one electron-withdrawing anion). According to one aspect, the electron-withdrawing component can be an electron-withdrawing anion derived from a salt, an acid, or other compound, such as a volatile organic compound, that serves as a source or precursor for that anion. Examples of electron-withdrawing anions can include, but are not limited to, sulfate, bisulfate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate, fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, phospho-tungstate, tungstate, molybdate, and the like, including mixtures and combinations thereof. In addition, other ionic or non-ionic compounds that serve as sources for these electron-withdrawing anions also can be employed.

It is contemplated that the electron-withdrawing anion can be, or can comprise, fluoride, chloride, bromide, phosphate, triflate, bisulfate, or sulfate, and the like, or any combination thereof, in some aspects provided herein. In other aspects, the electron-withdrawing anion can comprise sulfate, bisulfate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate, fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, and the like, or combinations thereof. Yet, in other aspects, the electron-withdrawing anion can comprise fluoride and/or sulfate.

The chemically-treated solid oxide generally can contain from about 1 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the electron-withdrawing anion, based on the weight of the chemically-treated solid oxide. In particular aspects provided herein, the chemically-treated solid oxide can contain from about 1 to about 20 wt. %, from about 2 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, from about 3 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, from about 2 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, from about 3 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, from about 3 wt. % to about 12 wt. %, or from about 4 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, of the electron-withdrawing anion, based on the total weight of the chemically-treated solid oxide.

In an aspect, the chemically-treated solid oxide can comprise fluorided alumina, chlorided alumina, bromided alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, chlorided silica-alumina, bromided silica-alumina, sulfated silica-alumina, fluorided silica-zirconia, chlorided silica-zirconia, bromided silica-zirconia, sulfated silica-zirconia, fluorided silica-titania, fluorided silica-coated alumina, fluorided-chlorided silica-coated alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, phosphated silica-coated alumina, and the like, as well as any mixture or combination thereof.

In another aspect, the chemically-treated solid oxide employed in the catalysts and processes described herein can be, or can comprise, a fluorided solid oxide and/or a sulfated solid oxide, non-limiting examples of which can include fluorided alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, sulfated silica-alumina, fluorided silica-zirconia, fluorided silica-coated alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Additional information on chemically-treated solid oxide can be found in, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,294,599, 7,601,665, 7,884,163, 8,309,485, 8,623,973, and 8,703,886, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Representative examples of supported chromium catalysts (in which a solid oxide is the support) include, but are not limited to, chromium/silica, chromium/silica-titania, chromium/silica-titania-magnesia, chromium/silica-alumina, chromium/silica-coated alumina, chromium/aluminophosphate, chromium/alumina, chromium/alumina borate, and the like, or any combination thereof. In one aspect, for instance, the supported chromium catalyst can comprise chromium/silica, while in another aspect, the supported chromium catalyst can comprise chromium/silica-titania, and in yet another aspect, the supported chromium catalyst can comprise chromium/silica-alumina and/or chromium/silica-coated alumina. In circumstances in which the supported chromium catalyst comprises chromium/silica-titania, any suitable amount of titanium can be present, including from about 0.1 to about 20 wt. %, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt. %, from about 1 to about 10 wt. %, or from about 1 to about 6 wt. % titanium, based on the total weight of the catalyst.

Representative examples of supported chromium catalysts (in which a chemically-treated solid oxide is the support) include, but are not limited to, chromium/sulfated alumina, chromium/fluorided alumina, chromium/fluorided silica-alumina, chromium/fluorided silica-coated alumina, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

Consistent with certain aspects of this invention, the supported chromium catalyst can comprise a zeolite as the support, i.e., a chromium supported zeolite. Any suitable zeolite can be used, for instance, large pore and medium pore zeolites. Large pore zeolites often have average pore diameters in a range of from about 7 Å to about 12 Å, and non-limiting examples of large pore zeolites include L-zeolite, Y-zeolite, mordenite, omega zeolite, beta zeolite, and the like. Medium pore zeolites often have average pore diameters in a range of from about 5 Å to about 7 Å. Combinations of zeolitic supports can be used.

Additional representative examples of zeolites that can be used in the supported catalyst include, for instance, a ZSM-5 zeolite, a ZSM-11 zeolite, a EU-1 zeolite, a ZSM-23 zeolite, a ZSM-57 zeolite, an ALPO4-11 zeolite, an ALPO4-41 zeolite, a Ferrierite framework type zeolite, and the like, or any combination thereof.

In the catalyst, the zeolite can be bound with a support matrix (or binder), non-limiting examples of which can include silica, alumina, magnesia, boria, titania, zirconia, various clays, and the like, including mixed oxides thereof, as well as mixtures thereof. For example, the catalyst support can comprise a binder comprising alumina, silica, a mixed oxide thereof, or a mixture thereof. The zeolite can be bound with the binder using any method known in the art. While not being limited thereto, the catalyst can comprise a zeolite and from about 3 wt. % to about 35 wt. % binder; alternatively, from about 5 wt. % to about 30 wt. % binder; or alternatively, from about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % binder. These weight percentages are based on the total weight of the catalyst.

The amount of chromium in the supported chromium catalyst also is not particularly limited. However, the amount of chromium in the supported chromium catalyst typically ranges from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. %; alternatively, from about 0.01 to about 10 wt. %; alternatively, from about 0.05 to about 15 wt. %; alternatively, from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. %; alternatively, from about 0.2 to about 10 wt. %; alternatively, from about 0.1 to about 5 wt. %; or alternatively, from about 0.5 to about 2.5 wt. %. These weight percentages are based on the amount of chromium relative to the total weight of the catalyst.

Likewise, the amount of chromium in an oxidation state of +5 or less in catalyst is not particularly limited, and can fall within the same ranges. Thus, the chromium catalyst can contain from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. %, from about 0.01 to about 10 wt. %, from about 0.05 to about 15 wt. %, from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. %, from about 0.2 to about 10 wt. %, from about 0.1 to about 5 wt. %, or from about 0.5 to about 2.5 wt. % of chromium in an oxidation state of +5 or less, based on the total weight of the catalyst. Traditional chromium (VI) catalysts often will have an orange, yellow, or tan color, while catalysts with chromium in reduced oxidation states often will have a green, blue, gray, or black color.

Generally, in the supported chromium catalyst, less than or equal to about 75 wt. % of the chromium can be in the hexavalent state in one aspect, while less than or equal to about 50 wt. % of the chromium can be in the hexavalent state in another aspect, and less than or equal to about 40 wt. % of the chromium can be in the hexavalent state in yet another aspect, and less than or equal to about 30 wt. % of the chromium can be in the hexavalent state in still another aspect. These values are based on the total amount of chromium in the catalyst.

Additionally or alternatively, the chromium in the supported chromium catalyst can be characterized by an average valence of less than or equal to about 5.25. More often, the catalyst contains chromium having an average valence of less than or equal to about 5; alternatively, an average valence of less than or equal to about 4.75; alternatively, an average valence of less than or equal to about 4.5; alternatively, an average valence of less than or equal to about 4.25; or alternatively, an average valence of less than or equal to about 4.

Additionally or alternatively, the molar ratio of the hydrocarbon group (i.e., hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon) to chromium in the supported catalyst often ranges from about 0.25:1 to about 2:1, while not being limited thereto. For instance, in some aspects, the molar ratio of the hydrocarbon group to chromium can fall in a range from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1, from about 0.5:1 to about 1.5:1, from about 0.75:1 to about 1.75:1, or from about 0.75:1 to about 1.25:1, and the like.

The total pore volume of the supported chromium catalyst also is not particularly limited. For instance, the supported chromium catalyst can have a total pore volume in a range from about 0.1 to about 5 mL/g, from about 0.15 to about 5 mL/g, from about 0.1 to about 3 mL/g, from about 0.5 to about 2.5 mL/g, or from about 0.15 to about 2 mL/g. Likewise, the surface area of the supported chromium catalyst is not limited to any particular range. Generally, however, the supported chromium catalyst can have a BET surface area in a range from about 50 to about 2000 m²/g, from about 50 to about 700 m²/g, from about 50 to about 400 m²/g, from about 100 to about 1200 m²/g, from about 150 to about 525 m²/g, or from about 200 to about 400 m²/g. BET surface areas are determined using the BET nitrogen adsorption method of Brunaur et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 60, 309 (1938). Total pore volumes are determined in accordance with Halsey, G. D., J. Chem. Phys. (1948), 16, pp. 931.

The supported chromium catalyst can have any suitable shape or form, and such can depend on the type of process that is employed to use the catalyst (e.g., loop slurry and fluidized bed for polymerization, and other processes for non-polymerization processes, such as fixed bed). Illustrative and non-limiting shapes and forms include powder, round or spherical (e.g., a sphere), ellipsoidal, pellet, bead, cylinder, granule (e.g., regular and/or irregular), trilobe, quadralobe, ring, wagon wheel, monolith, and the like, as well as any combination thereof. Accordingly, various methods can be utilized to prepare the catalyst particles, including, for example, extrusion, spray drying, pelletizing, marumerizing, spherodizing, agglomeration, oil drop, and the like, as well as combinations thereof.

In some aspects, the supported chromium catalyst can have a relatively small particle size, in which representative ranges for the average (d50) particle size of the supported chromium catalyst can include from about 10 to about 500 microns, from about 25 to about 250 microns, from about 20 to about 100 microns, from about 40 to about 160 microns, or from about 40 to about 120 microns. The d50 particle size, or median or average particle size, refers to the particle size for which 50% of the sample has a smaller size and 50% of the sample has a larger size, and is determined using laser diffraction in accordance with ISO 13320.

In other aspects, the supported chromium catalyst can be in the form of pellets or beads—and the like—having an average size ranging from about 1/16 inch to about ½ inch, or from about ⅛ inch to about ¼ inch. As noted above, the size of the catalyst particles can be varied to suit the particular process that is utilizing the chromium catalyst.

A variety of hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons can be part of a ligand bound to the chromium in a —O-Hydrocarbon group or —O-Halogenated hydrocarbon group, inclusive of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, linear aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, branched aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, and cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon groups. Thus, the hydrocarbon group can be a linear alkane group, a branched alkane group, or a cyclic alkane group, as well as halogenated versions thereof. Alternatively, the hydrocarbon group can be an aromatic group, such as a benzene group, a toluene group, and the like, as well as substituted versions and/or halogenated versions thereof. Hence, in one aspect, an alkoxy group can be bonded to the chromium, while in another aspect, an aryloxy group can be bonded to the chromium.

Any suitable carbon number hydrocarbon group can be used, such that the hydrocarbon group can be a C_(n) hydrocarbon group. While not being limited thereto, the integer n can range from 1 to 36 in one aspect, from 1 to 18 in another aspect, from 1 to 12 in yet another aspect, and from 1 to 8 in still another aspect. Therefore, the hydrocarbon group (or halogenated hydrocarbon group) can be any suitable carbon number alkane group, for instance, a C₁ to C₃₆ alkane group; alternatively, a C₁ to C₁₈ alkane group; alternatively, a C₁ to C₁₂ alkane group; or alternatively, a C₁ to C₈ alkane group, and analogous halogenated alkane groups.

Likewise, the hydrocarbon group (or halogenated hydrocarbon group) can be any suitable carbon number aromatic group, for instance, a C₆ to C₃₆ aromatic group; alternatively, a C₆ to C₁₈ aromatic group; alternatively, a C₆ to C₁₂ aromatic group; or alternatively, a C₆ to C₈ aromatic group, and analogous halogenated aromatic groups.

Illustrative examples of alkane and aromatic hydrocarbon groups can include a methane group, an ethane group, a propane group, a butane (e.g., n-butane or isobutane) group, a pentane (e.g., n-pentane, neopentane, or isopentane) group, a hexane group, a heptane group, an octane group, a nonane group, a decane group, an undecane group, a dodecane group, a tridecane group, a tetradecane group, a pentadecane group, a hexadecane group, a heptadecane group, an octadecane group, a benzene group, a toluene group, an ethylbenzene group, a xylene group, a mesitylene group, and the like, as well as halogenated versions thereof.

EXAMPLES

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not to be construed in any way as imposing limitations to the scope of this invention. Various other aspects, modifications, and equivalents thereof, which after reading the description herein, can suggest themselves to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Melt index (MI, g/10 min) was determined in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. with a 2.16 kg weight, I₁₀ (g/10 min) was determined in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. with a 10 kg weight, and high load melt index (HLMI, g/10 min) was determined in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. with a 21.6 kg weight. BET surface areas can be determined using the BET nitrogen adsorption method of Brunaur et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 60, 309 (1938). Total pore volumes can be determined in accordance with Halsey, G. D., J. Chem. Phys. (1948), 16, pp. 931. The d50 particle size, or median or average particle size, refers to the particle size for which 50% of the sample has a smaller size and 50% of the sample has a larger size, and can be determined using laser diffraction in accordance with ISO 13320.

In these examples, supported chromium catalysts comprising hexavalent chromium species were irradiated under UV-visible light in the presence of various reductants and under various treatment conditions. Prior to irradiation, the supported chromium catalysts were calcined at the specified temperature in dry air (an oxidizing atmosphere) in a fluidized bed for three hours, in order to convert the chromium species to their respective hexavalent oxidation state.

Unless otherwise specified, for each of the examples provided below, about two grams of the supported catalyst were first charged to an air-tight glass container at 25° C., optionally in the presence of a reductant. The glass container was then exposed to light as noted in Tables I-IV below. For examples where the glass container was exposed to sunlight, the container was taken outside and placed in direct sunlight, slowly rotating the container to ensure even exposure of the supported chromium catalyst mixture. For examples where the glass container was exposed to artificial light, the sample was placed in a box containing a fluorescent light emitting light in the UV-Vis spectrum. Examples not exposed to light were stored under dim lighting, or wrapped in foil to ensure no light entered the glass container. Reduction of the supported chromium catalysts was monitored by the presence of a color change. For each catalyst, the starting hexavalent supported chromium catalyst had an orange color which darkened significantly upon exposing the catalyst to light in the presence of a reductant, indicating reduction of the supported chromium catalyst starting material.

The reduced chromium catalysts, prepared as described above, were used in polymerization experiments conducted in a 2-L stainless-steel autoclave reactor containing 1.2 L of isobutane as a diluent. The polymerization reactions were conducted in the dark, and ethylene was fed on demand to maintain a reactor pressure of 550 psig. The reactor was maintained at the 105° C. (unless otherwise specified) throughout the experiment by an automated heating-cooling system. For copolymerization experiments, 1-hexene was flushed in with the initial ethylene charge. At the end of each experiment, the resulting polymer was dried at 60° C. under reduced pressure.

Examples 1-20

Examples 1-20 employed a supported chromium catalyst comprising silica-titania (2.5 wt. % Ti and 1.0 wt. % Cr). The Cr/silica-titania catalyst had a BET surface area of 500 m²/g, a pore volume of 2.5 mL/g, and an average particle size of 130 μm. The Cr/silica-titania catalysts were calcined at 850° C. (except as indicated otherwise) in dry air (an oxidizing atmosphere) in order to convert the respective chromium species to the hexavalent oxidation state. Tables I-II summarize the various catalyst reductions, catalyst productivity (grams of polyethylene per gram of catalyst), catalyst activity (grams of polyethylene per gram of catalyst per hour), and resultant polymer HLMI, I₁₀, and MI (g/10 min).

Comparative Examples 1-6 describe attempts to reduce the hexavalent chromium present on the Cr/silica-titania catalysts without exposing the catalyst to light in the presence of a reductant. As shown in Examples 1-2, when no reductant was present, the catalyst was unaffected by light (orange). In contrast, Examples 9-20 each underwent a color change following exposure to light after as little as 10 minutes in the presence of various reductants, the color change persisting after being removed from the light. Unexpectedly, when a reductant was present, even short exposures of light resulted in a color change, indicating reduction of the chromium to a lower valence chromium species. In fact, the catalyst activity and melt index potential of the catalysts were improved by relatively short exposures to light, as shown by Inventive Examples 9, 13, and 17.

In addition to reductions with ethylene, the reduction step was surprisingly effective for hydrocarbons that are relatively difficult to oxidize, such as methane and benzene. Examples 3-6 demonstrate the difficulty of reducing Cr(VI) catalysts in the presence of the hydrocarbon methane using conventional methods. In Examples 3-6, methane was passed through the catalysts in a fluidized bed (without light), and required heating to 350° C. and above (Examples 4-6) before a color change was observed. In contrast, and unexpectedly, exposing samples of the catalyst to sunlight in the presence of methane, without heating, induced a color change in the catalyst mixture within minutes (Example 13). Even more surprising, reduction in the presence of methane by the inventive method was not accompanied by a significant loss in catalyst activity and melt index potential, indicating that the catalyst produced in the presence of light is fundamentally distinct from that produced by conventional methods. Note the higher catalyst activities and melt index properties of Examples 13-14 as compared to Examples 3-6.

Examples 15-17 provide additional examples of reductions using compounds that are traditionally poor reductants, including tetrafluoroethane and benzene. Each example demonstrated a distinct and quick color change upon exposure to light. The use of benzene resulted in increased catalyst activity and comparable melt index properties to Comparative Examples 1-2. Inventive Examples 18-19 were conducted using H₂ as the reductant. Surprisingly, the reduction produced an active catalyst within minutes having increased MI potential and comparable activity, relative to the Comparative Example 7. This result is unexpected, particularly because thermal reduction in hydrogen typically results in a relatively inactive catalyst with low MI potential.

Comparative Example 8 is provided as direct comparison for Example 20, where the Cr/silica-titania catalyst was calcined at slightly elevated temperatures (871° C.), prior to being reduced in the presence of methane for 6 hr. The resulting reduced Cr/silica-titania catalysts were used in an ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization reaction, and surprisingly, both the catalyst activity and melt index properties of the catalyst reduced in the presence of light were higher than the Cr(VI)/silica-titania catalyst of Comparative Example 8.

TABLE I Comparative Examples 1-8 using Cr/silica-titania without light reduction HLMI I₁₀ MI Productivity Activity (g/10 (g/10 (g/10 Example Reductant Treatment Color (gPE/gCat) (g/g/h) min) min) min) 1 None None, orange 2315 3307 110 27.2 1.97 1 week 2 None light, orange 2434 3319 96 23.7 1.75 1 week 3 methane none orange 3087 3705 39 8.7 0.55 (300° C.) 4 methane none green 2209 3488 28 6.5 0.46 (350° C.) 5 methane none green 1823 3646 22 5.2 0.32 (400° C.) 6 methane none green 2338 2646 17 3.8 0.23 (450° C.) 7* none none orange 2919 3434 47 10.3 0.64 8*^(†) none none orange 3095 12379 62 14.2 0.91 *The catalyst was calcined at a temperature of 871° C. ^(†)The polymerization reaction was conducted at 100° C. in the presence of 5 mL 1-hexene.

TABLE II Inventive Examples 9-20 using Cr/silica-titania with light reduction HLMI I₁₀ MI Productivity Activity (g/10 (g/10 (g/10 Example Reductant Treatment Color (gPE/gCat) (g/g/h) min) min) min)  9 10 psig sunlight, blue/gray 2980 5430 88 23.1 1.72 ethylene 10 min 10 12 psig sunlight, blue/gray 2231 2434 71 17.6 1.38 ethylene 4 h 11 12 psig sunlight, blue/gray 2443 3858 57 14.6 1.10 ethylene 4 h 12 10 psig sunlight blue/gray 2212 2328 30 7.1 0.50 ethylene 6 h, 3 h (×2) 13 10 psig sunlight, green 2915 6780 114 26.3 1.95 methane 10 min 14 10 psig sunlight, green 3099 5469 70 16.7 1.17 methane 6 h 15 10 psig sunlight, green 1554 1636 29 7.1 0.54 Freon 2 h 16 10 psig sunlight, green 2820 1945 29 7.0 0.55 Freon 2 h 17 4 drops sunlight red/violet 3951 5268 89 20.8 1.46 benzene 15 min 18* 10 psig sunlight, green 3297 2953 52 11.9 0.88 H₂ 15 min 19* 10 psig sunlight gray/green 3437 3124 31 7.3 0.50 H₂ 2 h 20*^(†) 10 psig sunlight green 3239 14951 67 14.7 0.92 methane 6 h *The catalyst was calcined at a temperature of 871° C. ^(†)The polymerization reaction was conducted at 100° C. in the presence of 5 mL 1-hexene.

Examples 21-26

Examples 21-26 employed a Cr/silica catalyst as the supported catalyst comprising a hexavalent chromium species (1.0 wt. % Cr). The Cr/silica catalysts were calcined at 650° C. in dry air (an oxidizing atmosphere) in order to convert the chromium to the hexavalent oxidation state. The Cr/silica catalyst had a BET surface area of 500 m²/g, a pore volume of 1.6 mL/g, and an average particle size of 100 μm. Table III summarizes various catalyst reductions, catalyst productivity (grams of polyethylene per gram of catalyst), catalyst activity (grams of polyethylene per gram of catalyst per hour), and resultant polymer HMLI, 110, and MI (g/10 min).

Using ethylene as the reductant, Examples 22-23 demonstrated comparable catalyst activity to Example 21, but an unexpected improvement in melt index potential. Also unexpectedly, the catalysts prepared with the methane reductant in sunlight resulted in a significant increase in catalyst activity, comparable melt index potential in ethylene homopolymerization (Example 24), and superior melt index potential in ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization (Example 26).

TABLE III Examples using Cr/Silica Catalysts HLMI I₁₀ MI Productivity Activity (g/10 (g/10 (g/10 Ex. Reductant Treatment Color (gPE/gCat) (g/g/h) min) min) min) 21 none none orange 2347 2996 4.8 0.82 0.009 22 10 psig sunlight blue/gray 1409 3019 6.1 1.22 — ethylene (×2) 6 h, 3 h 23 10 psig sunlight blue/gray 1814 1432 7.4 1.53 0.033 ethylene (×2) 6 h, 3 h 24 10 psig sunlight, green 2603 4222 4.0 0.66 — methane 6 h 25^(†) none none orange 2923 5480 2.4 0.21 0 26^(†) 10 psig sunlight, green 3094 7140 3.6 0.60 0.014 methane 6 h ^(†)The polymerization reaction was conducted at 100° C. in the presence of 5 mL 1-hexene.

Examples 27-29

Certain examples above were conducted in sunlight or alternatively, under a fluorescent light emitting a spectrum of UV-Visible light. In order to evaluate which wavelength of light may be most effective at reducing the hexavalent species, Cr/silica-titania catalyst as described above was prepared by calcining for 3 h at 650° C., and treating the calcined catalyst with a small amount (0.5 mL) of n-hexane in Example 27. Samples of the catalyst underwent a reduction step as conducted above, using one of a red LED (631 nm), blue LED (450 nm), or violet LED (392 nm) in glass bottles. The intensity and wavelength distribution of each light source is shown in FIG. 2 . The color of each sample was monitored as an indicator of progress and efficiency of the reduction step. Of the three, the blue light was by far the most effective, whereas the red light achieved almost nothing. The violet light was also effective, but somewhat less so than the blue light. Since these experiments were conducted in glass containers that may absorb the shortest wavelengths of visible light, it is believed that a significant portion of the light emitted from the violet LED may have been absorbed by the glass.

In Example 28, IR reflectance spectra were obtained for a Cr/silica sample prepared as described above for Examples 21-26. As is shown in FIG. 3 , the spectra demonstrate a strong absorbance at about 600 nm attributable to Cr(III) species, and another absorbance at about 340 nm attributable to Cr(VI) species. Thus, while not wishing to be bound by theory, a more effective light source for catalyst reduction should include wavelengths less than 500 nm (e.g., compare blue light versus red light in FIG. 2 ).

For Example 29, perfluorohexane was evaluated as a reductant in a manner similar to benzene (Example 17), but did not result in a color change. Perfluorohexane contains only C—F and C—C bonds. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that compounds with C—H bonds are more susceptible to oxidation under irradiation conditions.

Examples 30-45

Examples 30-45 were performed in the same manner as Examples 1-20 and, with the exception of Examples 36 and 42, used the same supported chromium catalyst comprising silica-titania (2.5 wt. % Ti and 1.0 wt. % Cr). The Cr/silica-titania catalysts were calcined at 871° C. in dry air. Examples 36 and 42 used a 10% Cr/silica catalyst that was calcined at 400° C. in dry air for 3 hr. Catalyst weights ranged from 0.04 to 0.26 grams and polymerization reaction times ranged from 30 to 240 for Examples 30-45. Table IV summarizes the various catalyst reductions, catalytic activity, polymer molecular weight properties, polymer rheological characterization, and polymer MI, I₁₀, and HLMI (g/10 min).

Molecular weights and molecular weight distributions were obtained using a PL-GPC 220 (Polymer Labs, an Agilent Company) system equipped with a IR4 detector (Polymer Char, Spain) and three Styragel HMW-6E GPC columns (Waters, MA) running at 145° C. The flow rate of the mobile phase 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) containing 0.5 g/L 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) was set at 1 mL/min, and polymer solution concentrations were in the range of 1.0-1.5 mg/mL, depending on the molecular weight. Sample preparation was conducted at 150° C. for nominally 4 hr with occasional and gentle agitation, before the solutions were transferred to sample vials for injection. An injection volume of about 200 μL was used. The integral calibration method was used to deduce molecular weights and molecular weight distributions using a Chevron Phillips Chemical Company's HDPE polyethylene resin, MARLEX® BHB5003, as the broad standard. The integral table of the broad standard was pre-determined in a separate experiment with SEC-MALS. Mn is the number-average molecular weight, Mw is the weight-average molecular weight, Mz is the z-average molecular weight, My is viscosity-average molecular weight, and Mp is the peak molecular weight (location, in molecular weight, of the highest point of the molecular weight distribution curve).

Melt rheological characterizations were performed as follows. Small-strain (10%) oscillatory shear measurements were performed on an Anton Paar MCR 501 rheometer using parallel-plate geometry. All rheological tests were performed at 190° C. The complex viscosity |η*| versus frequency (ω) data were then curve fitted using the modified three parameter Carreau-Yasuda (CY) empirical model to obtain the zero shear viscosity—η₀, characteristic viscous relaxation time—τ_(η), and the breadth parameter—a (CY-a parameter). The simplified Carreau-Yasuda (CY) empirical model is as follows.

${\left| {\eta*(\omega)} \right| = \frac{\eta_{0}}{\left\lbrack {1 + \left( {\tau_{\eta}\omega} \right)^{a}} \right\rbrack^{{({1 - n})}/a}}},$

wherein: |η*(ω)|=magnitude of complex shear viscosity;

-   -   η₀=zero shear viscosity;     -   τ_(η)=viscous relaxation time (Tau(η) in sec);     -   a=“breadth” parameter (CY-a parameter);     -   n=fixes the final power law slope, fixed at 2/11; and     -   ω=angular frequency of oscillatory shearing deformation.

Details of the significance and interpretation of the CY model and derived parameters can be found in: C. A. Hieber and H. H. Chiang, Rheol. Acta, 28, 321 (1989); C. A. Hieber and H. H. Chiang, Polym. Eng. Sci., 32, 931 (1992); and R. B. Bird, R. C. Armstrong and O. Hasseger, Dynamics of Polymeric Liquids, Volume 1, Fluid Mechanics, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons (1987); each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The long chain branches (LCBs) per 1,000,000 total carbon atoms of the overall polymer were calculated using the method of Janzen and Colby (J. Mol. Struct., 485/486, 569-584 (1999), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), from values of zero shear viscosity (determined from the Carreau-Yasuda (CY) model), and measured values of Mw obtained using a Dawn EOS multiangle light scattering detector (Wyatt).

As shown in Table IV, the light reduction step was surprisingly effective for several different hydrocarbon reductants: methane, ethane, n-pentane, n-hexane, toluene, decalin, adamantane, and cyclohexane. Example 34 (34 min) and Example 35 (91 min) used different polymerization times, as did Example 43 (61 min) and Example 44 (37 min). With the exception of Examples 36 and 42, the catalysts had surprising catalytic activity and melt index potential. Examples 30-33 in Table IV demonstrate that catalyst treatment with light irradiation in the presence of a reductant reduces the long chain branching content of the polymer produced, with an unexpected increase in the CY-a parameter.

As shown in Table IV, the polymers of Example 36 (0.26 g catalyst, 151 min reaction time) and Example 42 (0.2 g catalyst, 240 min reaction time), unexpectedly, had very broad molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn in the 50-90 range) in combination with relatively high CY-a values (0.29-0.33), and very low levels of LCBs (less than 3 per million total carbon atoms). Also surprisingly, Table IV demonstrates that the polymer of Example 40 (0.057 g catalyst, 57 min reaction time) had a long high molecular weight tail, resulting in a Mz/Mw value in the 45-50 range, despite have a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn less than 10), and substantially no LCBs.

TABLE IV Examples 30-45 Productivity Activity HLMI I₁₀ MI Example Reductant Treatment Color (gPE/gCat) (g/g/h) (g/10 min) (g/10 min) (g/10 min) CY-a 30 None None — — — — — 4.45 0.199 31 None None — — — — — 0.16 0.193 32 n-pentane Sunlight blue/gray 3188 3298 154 36.4 3.65 0.226 1 h 33 n-hexane White light blue/gray 2251 2936 139 32.8 3.22 0.219 3 h 34 toluene Blue light blue/black 1481 3065 203 46.8 3.6 0.199 1.5 h 35 toluene Blue light blue/black 4235 3434 67 15.2 1.1 0.201 1.5 h 36 n-pentane UV light black 238 107 3.4 0.5 — 0.294 3 h 37 10 psig UV light dark 2267 2616 113 26.8 2.1 0.196 ethane 4 h blue/gray 38 toluene Blue light black 2312 2070 153 33.4 2.9 0.205 2.5 h 39 decalin Blue light blue 1954 2345 198 34.7 4.2 0.204 2 h 40 adamantane Blue light blue 2205 2646 166 30.6 3.5 0.200 2 h 41 cyclohexane Blue light blue 2423 1069 47 7.3 0.8 0.210 2 h 42 None None dark red 262 81 0.5 — — 0.327 43 methane Blue light green 2692 2884 157 36.5 3.4 0.229 2 h 44 methane Blue light blue/gray 1024 1920 82 18.6 1.5 0.174 2 h 45 None None orange 2668 2541 220 51.7 4.6 0.219 Mn Mw Mz η₀ τ_(η) J-C LCB Example Reductant (kg/mol) (kg/mol) (kg/mol) Mw/Mn Mz/Mw (Pa − sec) (sec) (per MM C) 30 None — — — — — — — — 31 None — — — — — — — — 32 n-pentane 14.7 100 579 6.8 5.8 9.68E+03 0.016 8.8 33 n-hexane 9.8 102 962 10.3 9.5 1.24E+04 0.022 9.9 34 toluene 11.1 107 1060 9.6 9.9 1.24E+04 0.020 7.8 35 toluene 14.3 142 1129 9.9 8.0 4.42E+04 0.081 6.4 36 n-pentane 8.3 416 2810 50.3 6.8 4.11E+06 50.4 2.2 37 ethane 9.6 120 1159 12.5 9.6 2.29E+04 0.034 7.7 38 toluene 14.7 101 760 6.9 7.5 1.26E+04 0.020 10.3 39 decalin 14.4 108 835 7.5 7.7 9.74E+03 0.014 5.9 40 adamantane 17.2 166 8076 9.6 48.6 1.20E+04 0.015 <0.01 41 cyclohexane 15.7 162 1453 10.4 9.0 5.23E+04 0.111 4.2 42 None 6.3 557 3342 88.5 6.0 7.01E+06 49.6 1.2 43 methane 13.8 104 726 7.5 7.0 8.20E+03 0.014 6.2 44 methane 14.3 130 1165 9.1 9.0 3.31E+04 0.024 7.4 45 None 12.9 102 843 7.9 8.3 8.01E+03 0.013 6.6

Examples 46-52

Examples 46-52 were performed to determine the extent of reduction of the hexavalent chromium and the average valence after reduction in a representative supported chromium catalyst. Table V summarizes the results. Example 52 was a chromium/silica-titania catalyst containing approximately 0.8 wt. % chromium and 7 wt. % titania, and having a BET surface area of 530 m²/g, a pore volume of 2.6 mL/g, and an average particle size of 130 um, which was calcined in dry air at 850° C. for 3 hr to convert chromium to the hexavalent oxidation state (orange). This converted over 86 wt. % of the chromium into the hexavalent state. For Examples 46-47, approximate 2 g samples of the catalyst of Example 52 were separately charged to a glass reaction vessel and 0.5 mL of liquid isopentane was charged to the vessel. For Examples 48-49, about 1.5 atm of gaseous methane was charged to the glass bottle. Then, the bottle was placed in a light-proof box under blue fluorescent light (approximately 2 times the intensity expected from sunlight), and the bottle was continuously rotated so that all of the catalyst was exposed to the light for 24 hr. The final catalyst color is noted in Table V. Afterward, into the bottle, along with the catalyst, was introduced about 20 mL of a solution of 2 M H₂SO₄. To this was added 5 drops of ferroin Fe(+3) indicator. This usually turned a blue-green color indicating the presence of Fe(III) ions. Next, the solution was titrated to the ferroin endpoint (red color) using a solution of ferrous ammonium sulfate, which had been previously calibrated by reaction with a standardized 0.1 M sodium dichromate solution. When the solution turned red, the end point was signaled, and the titrant volume was recorded, to calculate the oxidation capacity of the catalyst, expressed as wt. % Cr(VI) and as percent reduced, that is, the percent of the original Cr(VI) oxidative power that has been removed by the reduction treatment. The average valence was also computed by multiplying the percent reduced by +3 and subtracting that number from +6.

Of course, this treatment gives only an average oxidation state. Note that although Table V lists the oxidative power measured as wt. % Cr(VI), in reality all of the chromium could be present in lower valence states, such as Cr(IV) or Cr(V). Thus, the Cr(VI) value in Table V only lists the maximum amount of Cr(VI) that could be present. More likely, the reduced catalysts have a combination of several valence states that produce the measured oxidative power. Note that some of the reduced chromium, and particularly those catalysts reduced with CO, may be in the divalent state, which would not have been detected in this test, which stops in the trivalent state.

Example 52 demonstrates that the air-calcined chromium catalyst contained substantially most of its chromium (0.69/0.80=86 wt. %) present as Cr(VI), and it is this Cr(VI) amount that is being reduced in the light treatment. Therefore, this amount of Cr(VI) serves as the starting amount, which had an average valence of +6, and which serves as a reference, to which the reduced catalysts are then compared. Examples 46-47 were reduced chromium catalysts with an average valence of approximately +3.3, with no more than 0.06 wt. % Cr(VI), and with less than 10 wt. % of the starting hexavalent chromium still remaining in the hexavalent oxidation state. Examples 48-49 were reduced chromium catalysts with an average valence of approximately +4.1, with no more than 0.26 wt. % Cr(VI), and with less than 40 wt. % of the chromium in the hexavalent oxidation state. For Examples 50-51, the catalyst was reduced in CO with either blue light or elevated temperature, resulting in no oxidative power being measured (0 wt. % Cr(VI) in the table). Thus, the average valence must be no more than +3. But the catalyst that was CO-reduced by conventional means (Example 51) is known to have a valence of mostly Cr(II), which is not detected in this test. Accordingly, Examples 50 and 51 are listed as less than or equal to +3. Notably, this test cannot distinguish between Cr(II) and Cr(III) species, but there was no measurable amount of hexavalent chromium in Examples 50-51.

TABLE V Examples 46-52 Catalyst Cr(VI) Reduced Average Example Reductant Treatment Color (g) (wt. %) (wt. %) Valence 46 isopentane Blue light blue 2.05 0.06 90.8 3.28 24 hr 47 isopentane Blue light blue 2.08 0.06 90.9 3.27 24 hr 48 methane Blue light olive 2.14 0.26 62.3 4.13 24 hr green 49 methane Blue light olive 2.30 0.26 61.9 4.14 24 hr green 50 CO Blue light blue 2.33 0.00 100 ≤3 2 hr green 51 CO CO reduction blue 2.52 0.00 100 ≤3 30 min-350° C. 52 None None orange — 0.69 0 6.00

Examples 53-77

In Examples 53-77, Catalyst A was a Cr/silica catalyst containing 1 wt. % Cr, with a BET surface area of 500 m²/g, a pore volume of 1.6 mL/g, and an average particle size of 100 um. Prior to use, the catalyst was calcined in air at 650° C. for 3 hr to form the chromium (VI)/silica catalyst. Catalyst B was a Cr/silica-titania catalyst containing 1 wt. % Cr and 4.2 wt. % TiO₂, with a BET surface area of 500 m²/g, a pore volume of 2.5 mL/g, and an average particle size of 130 um. Prior to use, the catalyst was calcined in air at 870° C. for 3 hr to form the chromium (VI)/silica-titania catalyst. Catalyst C was a Cr/silica containing 10 wt. % Cr, with a BET surface area of 500 m²/g, a pore volume of 1.6 mL/g, and an average particle size of 100 um. Prior to use, the catalyst was calcined in air at 400° C. for 3 hr to form the chromium (VI)/silica catalyst. Catalyst D was a Cr/silica-titania containing 1 wt. % Cr and 7.5 wt. % TiO₂, with a BET surface area of 550 m²/g, a pore volume of 2.5 mL/g, and an average particle size of 130 um. Prior to use, the catalyst was calcined in air at 850° C. for 3 hr to form the chromium (VI)/silica-titania catalyst.

For the reductions of Examples 53-77, approximately two grams of the supported chromium catalyst were first charged to an air-tight glass container at 25° C., followed by the addition of the hydrocarbon reductant. The glass container was then exposed to a light source as noted in Table VI below. For examples where the glass container was exposed to sunlight, the container was taken outside and placed in direct sunlight, slowly rotating the container to ensure even exposure of the mixture of the supported chromium catalyst and the hydrocarbon reactant. For examples where the glass container was exposed to artificial light, the sample was placed in a box containing a fluorescent light or a LED light. Reduction of the supported chromium catalysts was monitored by the presence of a color change. For each catalyst, the starting hexavalent supported chromium catalyst had an orange color which darkened significantly upon exposing the catalyst to light in the presence of the hydrocarbon reactant, indicating reduction of the supported chromium catalyst starting material, and formation of the reduced chromium catalyst.

After the desired exposure time, the reduced chromium catalyst was mixed with a hydrolysis agent to cleave the hydrocarbon-containing ligand from the reduced chromium catalyst. The hydrolysis agent used was water, methanol, ethanol, or trifluoroethanol, or a mixture thereof, and was selected to not interfere with analysis of the reaction product (e.g., methanol was not used as the hydrolysis agent when the reaction product after hydrolysis could contain methanol).

A GC-MS procedure was used to analyze the reaction product, as follows. Gas chromatography was performed using an Agilent 7890B GC equipped with an all-purpose capillary column (Agilent J&W VF-5 ms, 30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm). Approximate 0.5 μL sample aliquots were injected into a GC port held at 250° C. using a split ratio of 10:1. The carrier gas was ultra-high purity helium and was electronically controlled throughout the run to a constant flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. Initial column temperature was held at 50° C. for 5 min, ramped at 20° C./min to 250° C., and then held at 250° C. for 19 min. Spectral assignment was made via mass correlation using an Agilent 5977B mass spectrometer connected to the GC unit using electron ionization at 70 eV. The nominal mass range scanned was 14-400 m/z using a scan time of 0.5 sec. Nominal detector voltage used was 1200 V.

Table VI summarizes the results of Examples 53-77, and lists the specific chromium catalyst, the hydrocarbon reductant, the light treatment, and an analysis of the reaction product after hydrolysis. Examples 53-58 demonstrate the unexpected finding that the —O-Hydrocarbon group on the chromium catalyst after reduction was a —O-Methane group; the reaction product after hydrolysis to cleave the hydrocarbon-containing ligand from the catalyst was predominantly methanol. Similar surprising results were found for chromium catalysts with a —O-n-Pentane group (pentanol hydrolysis product), a —O-n-Hexane group (hexanol hydrolysis product), and a —O-Cyclohexane group (cyclohexanol hydrolysis product), among others. Likewise, a chromium catalyst with a —O-Toluene group (benzaldehyde hydrolysis product) also was produced. In Example 63, toluene was converted into benzaldehyde (no alcohol), but in Example 68, toluene was converted into a variety of alcohol and carbonyl products; the only difference between these examples was the irradiation exposure time. When the reductant was dichloromethane, no alcohol or carbonyl hydrolysis product was noted. However, it is believed that other halogenated hydrocarbon materials would form —O-Halogenated hydrocarbon groups on the chromium catalyst, such as tetrafluoroethane (see Examples 15-16).

TABLE VI Summary of Examples 53-77. Light Example Catalyst Reductant treatment Reaction product after hydrolysis 53 A 1.7 atm 10 hr sunlight 83% methanol, 17% ethanol methane 54 A 1.7 atm 3 hr sunlight 61% methanol, 34% ethanol, 3% propanoic acid, 2% acetic methane acid 55 B 1.7 atm 10 hr sunlight 55% ethanol, 45% methanol methane 56 A 1.7 atm 6 hr sunlight no carboxylates detected, alcohols not analyzed methane 57 B 1.7 atm 6 hr sunlight 100% methanol, no carboxylates methane 58 A 1.7 atm 6 hr sunlight 100% methanol methane 59 A 1.7 atm 3 hr sunlight 42% methanol, 56% formic acid, 2% acetic acid ethylene 60 B 1.7 atm 3 hr sunlight 76% formic acid, 21% methanol, 2% acetic acid, 1% ethanol ethylene 61 B 0.5 mL 1 hr sunlight 2-pentanol > 2-pentanone > 1-pentanol >> 3-pentanone n-pentane 62 B 0.5 mL 3 hr white 2-hexanol > 3-hexanol > 1-hexanol > 2-hexanone > 3-hexanone > n-hexane fluorescent light 1-hexanone > 1-butanol > C7&C18 oxygenates >> hexanal 63 B 0.5 mL 1.5 hr blue benzaldehyde toluene fluorescent light 64 C 0.5 mL 3 hr UV 2-pentanone > 2-pentanol > 3-pentanone >> 1-pentanone = n-pentane fluorescent light enones = enols 65 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue 2-pentanol > 2-pentanone > 1-pentanol >> 3-pentanone n-pentane fluorescent light 66 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue 2-hexanol > 3-hexanol > 1-hexanol > 2-hexanone > n-hexane fluorescent light 3-hexanone > 1-hexanone > 1-butanol > C7&C18 oxygenates >> hexanal, no alkanes 67 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue 2-pentanol > 1-pentanol > 2-pentanone > C7-C18 oxygenates, n-pentane fluorescent light no alkanes 68 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue benzaldehyde > benzyl alcohol > benzophenone = 4-Me toluene fluorescent light benzophenone => 2-Me Phenol = 2-Me benzophenone = 3-Me Benzophenone > 4-Me Phenol > 3-Me Benzaldehyde 69 D 10% Cr 18 hr blue 2-pentanone > 2-pentanol > 3-pentanone >> 1-pentanone = n-pentane fluorescent light c7 enones = c7 enols 70 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue LED cyclohexanol >= cyclohexanone >> cyclohexenone >> maybe cyclohexane light C14&C18 oxygenates 71 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue LED decahydronaphthalene (C10H18) (two isomers) > decalin light tetrahydronaphthalene (C10H12) >> various bicyclic C10 alcohols (with the OH at different positions) 72 D 0.5 mL 3 hr blue LED adamantanol > andamantanone >+ another isomer of adamantane light adamantanol 73 D 0.5 mL 7 hr blue 4 isomers of C5-OH, similar size, only a trace of ketone isopentane fluorescent light 74 D 0.5 mL 7 hr blue 2-pentanol > another pentanol, no ketones n-pentane fluorescent light 75 D 0.5 mL 7 hr blue cyclopentanol >> likely dimer ethers C10H20O2 cyclohexane fluorescent light 76 D 0.5 mL 7 hr blue 7 isomers of dodecene, and trace of C6H10O3 (an aldehyde at n-hexane fluorescent light one end and an ester at the other) 77 D 0.5 mL 7 hr blue nothing identified dichloro fluorescent light methane

Examples 78-94

Table VII summarizes Examples 78-92. In these examples, Catalyst A was a Cr/silica-titania containing 2.5 wt. % Ti and 1 wt. % Cr, with an average particle size of 130 um, a pore volume 2.5 mL/g, and a BET surface area of 500 m²/g. Prior to use, the catalyst was calcined in dry air for 3 hr at 871° C. to form a chromium (VI)/silica-titania catalyst. Catalyst B was a light reduced catalyst prepared by exposing Catalyst A to 1.5 atm of deuterated propylene (C3D6) under sunlight for 2 hr at 25° C. Excess deuterated propylene was then purged with N₂. Catalyst C was a light reduced catalyst prepared by exposing Catalyst A to 0.25 mL/g of deuterated n-hexane (C6D14) under sunlight for 2 hr at 25° C. Catalyst D was a light reduced catalyst prepared by exposing Catalyst A to 0.25 mL/g of deuterated cyclohexane (C6D12) under blue fluorescent light for 2 hr at 25° C. Catalyst E was a light reduced catalyst prepared by exposing Catalyst A to 0.25 mL/g of deuterated toluene (C7D8) under blue fluorescent light for 2 hr at 25° C. Catalyst F was a CO-reduced catalyst prepared by flushing Catalyst A at 350° C. with N₂ for 15 min, then treating with 100% CO for 30 min at 350° C., and flushing again with N₂ for 15 min, and followed by cooling at 25° C. and storing under Na. In Table VII, Catalyst F was subsequently subjected to the treatment shown in Table VII for 10-15 min prior to polymerization.

Polymerization experiments for Examples 78-94 utilized approximately 2 g of catalyst, a reaction time in the 10-25 minute range (to produce 1-2 grams of polymer per gram of catalyst), an ethylene pressure of 24-30 psig (normal unlabeled ethylene), and a polymerization temperature of 50° C. (unless noted otherwise). Isopropanol or ethanol was used to quench the reaction.

For NMR analysis, the samples were prepared in 10 mm NMR tube. About 0.3 g of selectively deuterium-labeled polyethylene samples was dissolved in a mixture of 2.5 mL 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB) and 1.20 g of 1,4-dichlorobenzene-d₄ (DCB-d₄) for ¹H and ¹³C NMR data collection. For solution-state deuterium (²H) NMR data collection, about 0.3 g of the polyethylene samples and the model compound were dissolved in 2.5 mL of non-deuterated TCB solvent.

The sample and the solvent (or solvent mixture) were heated in a heating block at 130° C. for 4-5 hr. The mixture was occasionally stirred with a stainless-steel stirrer to ensure homogeneous mixing. The resulting solution was then left overnight (for 15-16 hr) in the heating block at 112° C. to ensure complete disentanglement of the polymer chains. The final concentrations of the resulting solutions were about 5-7 wt. %.

The NMR data were collected in a 500 MHz NMR instrument comprised of a 500 MHz Oxford magnet and Bruker's Avance III HD console. A 10 mm BBO probe fitted with z-gradient was used for ¹H, ²H and ¹³C NMR data collection. The deuterium lock channel of the instrument was used for ²H NMR data collection. All the NMR data were collected at 125° C. and the sample was equilibrated at 125° C. for 15 min before the start of data acquisition. The data were collected and processed with Bruker's Topspin software (v. 3.2).

The ¹H NMR data were collected with standard pulse sequence using the standard parameter set including: a 7.4 μsec 90° pulse width, a 7.5 kHz spectral window, 5.0 sec relaxation delay, and 5.0 sec acquisition time. 1024 transients were averaged to obtain enough signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to detect the signals originated from terminal olefins. The data was zero filled with 131k data points and exponentially weighted with 0.30 Hz line-broadening before Fourier transformation. The spectrum was referenced with the residual proton peak of DCB-d₄ solvent (δ˜7.16 ppm).

The ²H NMR (deuterium) data were collected with standard pulse sequence using the standard parameter set including: a 225 μsec 90° pulse width, a 1.15 kHz spectral window, 2.0 sec relaxation delay, and 0.99 sec acquisition time. 16k transients were collected and averaged to obtain enough SNR to detect the methyl signal. The data was zero filled with 8k data points and exponentially weighted with 2.0 Hz line-broadening before Fourier transformation. The spectrum was referenced with the natural abundance deuterium peak of non-deuterated TCB solvent (the chemical shift of the central peak of the triplet is calibrated at δ˜7.2 ppm).

The ¹³C NMR spectra of the polyethylene samples were collected with standard pulse program using the standard parameter set including: a 13.0 μsec 90° pulse width, a 21.7 kHz spectral window, 7.0 sec relaxation delay, and 3.0 sec acquisition time. 8k transients were collected in an overnight experiment and full NOE was exploited during data collection to improve the SNR at a reasonable amount of time. The data was zero filled with 2 times of time-domain (TD) data points and exponentially weighted with a 1.0 Hz line-broadening before Fourier transformation.

The ²H NMR data in Table VII demonstrates, unexpectedly, that the reductant used in Catalysts B-E was incorporated into the polymer as a terminal or end group. Likewise, the adjuvant material of CO-reduced Catalyst F, also unexpectedly, was incorporated into the polymer as a terminal or end group. Thus, terminal alkane, cyclic alkane, and aromatic end groups were incorporated into an ethylene polymer.

The NMR data in Table VII also demonstrates ethylene homopolymers with a surprising combination of a relatively high number of methyl short chain branches (SCB's) and a relatively low number of butyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms. The homopolymers of Examples 78, 82-84, 86, and 90-91 have at least 3.5 methyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms and less than 0.6 butyl SCB's. Moreover, these homopolymers have ratios of vinyl chain ends to saturated chain ends (vinyl/saturated) per 1000 total carbon of less than 0.1 (and zero in most cases), which is particularly unexpected, given that conventional chromium-based polymers often have vinyl/saturated ratios between 0.5 and 1.0.

FIG. 4 illustrates the molecular weight distributions of the polymers of Examples 88-89 and 93-94, and Table VIII summarizes certain molecular weight features. The adjuvant used in Example 88 was n-hexane, while Example 89 used toluene, and Example 93 used benzene (prepared similarly to Example 89). Example 94 was a control experiment in which no adjuvant was used. As shown in FIG. 4 and Table VIII, the polymer of Example 89 (toluene adjuvant) had a surprising combination of a relatively large amount of the polymer having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol (over 6 wt. %) and a relatively large amount of the polymer having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol (over 4 wt. %). Note also the large Mw/Mn of 47 shown in Table VIII.

TABLE VII Summary of Examples 78-92. Poly- Starting merization ²H NMR Example Catalyst Valence Other Treatment Temp Deuterium Signals** 78 B Cr + 6 None  0° C. CD₂, CD₃, CD 79 C Cr + 6 None 50° C. CD, CD₂, CD₃, D-allyl, D-term-vinyl 80 D Cr + 6 None 50° C. CD, CD₂, CD₃, D-allyl, less D-term-vinyl 81 E Cr + 6 None 80° C. Aromatics, CD₂, CD₃, maybe allyl 82 F Cr + 2 C₂D₄ −78° C. 80° C. CD₃, CD₂ 83 F Cr + 2 C₂D₄ 0° C.  0° C. CD₃, CD₂ 84 F Cr + 2 C₂D₄ −78° C. 80° C. CD₃, CD₂ 85 F Cr + 2 C₂D₄ −78° C.  0° C. CD₂, CD₃ 86 F Cr + 2 C₃D₆ −78° C. 50° C. CD₃, CD₂, CD, D-vinylidene, D-vinylene 87 F Cr + 2 C₃D₆ −78° C. 50° C. CD₃, CD₂, CD, D-vinylidene, D-vinylene 88 F Cr + 2 C₆D₁₄ 25° C. 50° C. CD₃, CD₂— 89 F Cr + 2 C₇D₈ 25° C. 50° C. Aromatics, CD₂, maybe D-allyl 90 F Cr + 2 C₂D₄ 0° C.  0° C. N/A-ethanol quench 91 B* Cr + 6 None  0° C. N/A 92 F Cr + 2 C₃D₆ 25° C. 25° C. N/A Mn Mw Mz Example (kg/mol) (kg/mol) (kg/mol) Mw/Mn Mz/Mw 78 10.1 50 146 4.9 2.9 79 11.2 78 342 7.0 4.4 80 8.3 50.2 224 6.0 4.5 81 11.7 66 211 5.7 3.2 82 10.6 54 173 5.0 5.4 83 16.9 129 625 7.6 4.9 84 9.9 76 250 7.7 7.3 85 12.7 196 1225 15.4 6.3 86 12.1 59 277 4.9 4.7 87 17.1 199 1075 11.6 5.4 88 8.9 100 628 11.2 6.3 89 5.5 258 2449 47.1 9.5 90 14.0 107 597 7.6 5.6 91 9.3 45 160 4.9 3.5 92 11.2 78 342 7.0 4.4 Vinyl Saturated Vinyl/ Methyls Ethyls Butyls Example (1000 TC) (1000 TC) Saturated (1000 TC) (1000 TC) (1000 TC) 78 0 6.46 0.00 5.70 1.20 0.00 79 — — — — — — 80 0.86 3.94 0.22 0.60 0.00 0.00 81 0 5.95 0.00 2.85 0.10 0.00 82 0 5.18 0.00 5.65 1.80 0.10 83 0 2.33 0.00 4.05 3.20 0.30 84 0 3.82 0.00 9.05 0.00 0.00 85 0 1.52 0.00 3.10 1.15 0.00 86 0.23 4.55 0.05 6.00 1.80 0.00 87 0.63 0.78 0.81 2.10 0.20 0.00 88 — — — — — — 89 — — — — — — 90 0 2.40 0.00 4.85 3.00 0.00 91 0 6.39 0.00 5.00 1.15 0.00 92 0.3 3.69 0.08 0.05 0.15 0.00 B*—Example 91 was performed similarly to Example 78, except deuterated ethylene was used instead of propylene. **D-allyl: CH₂═CH—CD—; D-terminal vinyl: CD₂═CD—; D-vinylidene: ═CD2₂; D-vinylene: —CD═CD—

TABLE VIII Examples 88-89 and 93-94. Example 88 89 93 94 Adjuvant treatment n-Hexane Toluene Benzene Control Weight percentage having a molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol 1.5 4.2 1.4 0.2 10,000 g/mol 23.1 30.9 24.6 14.3 100,000 g/mol 76.0 70.3 74.4 74.6 1,000,000 g/mol 99.0 93.6 97.7 99.2 Weight percentage having a molecular weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol 1.0 6.4 2.3 0.8 100,000 g/mol 24.0 29.7 25.6 25.4 10,000 g/mol 76.9 69.1 75.4 85.7 1000 g/mol 98.5 95.8 98.6 99.8 Weight percentage having a molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 10,000 g/mol 21.6 26.7 23.2 14.1 10,000 to 100,000 g/mol 52.9 39.5 49.7 60.3 100,000 to 1 million g/mol 23.0 23.3 23.3 24.6 10,000 to 1 million g/mol 75.9 62.8 73.1 84.9 100,000 to 1 million g/mol 23.0 23.3 23.3 24.6 Less than <3162 g/mol 8.6 15.2 7.9 3.2 Lowest and highest measured molecular weights (g/mol) Lowest MW 292 231 398 744 Highest MW 4,604,156 9,812,507 7,176,951 3,718,348

The invention is described above with reference to numerous aspects and specific examples. Many variations will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art in light of the above detailed description. All such obvious variations are within the full intended scope of the appended claims. Other aspects of the invention can include, but are not limited to, the following (aspects are described as “comprising” but, alternatively, can “consist essentially of” or “consist of”):

-   -   Aspect 1. A supported chromium catalyst comprising:     -   a solid support; and from about 0.01 to about 20 wt. % chromium,         based on the weight of the catalyst; wherein:     -   the chromium has an average valence of less than or equal to         about 5.25; and at least one bonding site on the chromium has a         ligand characterized by one of the following formulas:         —O-Hydrocarbon group or —O-Halogenated hydrocarbon group.     -   Aspect 2. The catalyst defined in aspect 1, wherein the molar         ratio of the hydrocarbon group to chromium is in any suitable         range or any range disclosed herein, e.g., from about 0.25:1 to         about 2:1, from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1, from about 0.5:1 to         about 1.5:1, from about 0.75:1 to about 1.75:1, or from about         0.75:1 to about 1.25:1.     -   Aspect 3. The catalyst defined in aspect 1 or 2, wherein the         supported chromium catalyst comprises any suitable amount of         chromium or an amount in any range disclosed herein, e.g., from         about 0.01 to about 10 wt. %, from about 0.05 to about 15 wt. %,         from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. %, from about 0.2 to about 10 wt.         %, from about 0.1 to about 5 wt. %, or from about 0.5 to about         2.5 wt. % of chromium, based on the weight of the catalyst.     -   Aspect 4. The catalyst defined in any one of the preceding         aspects, wherein the supported chromium catalyst comprises any         suitable amount of chromium in an oxidation state of +5 or less,         or an amount in any range disclosed herein, e.g., from about         0.01 to about 20 wt. %, from about 0.01 to about 10 wt. %, from         about 0.05 to about 15 wt. %, from about 0.1 to about 15 wt. %,         from about 0.2 to about 10 wt. %, from about 0.1 to about 5 wt.         %, or from about 0.5 to about 2.5 wt. % of chromium in an         oxidation state of +5 or less, based on the weight of the         catalyst.     -   Aspect 5. The catalyst defined in any one of the preceding         aspects, wherein the catalyst comprises chromium having an         average valence of less than or equal to about 5.25, less than         or equal to about 5, less than or equal to about 4.75, less than         or equal to about 4.5, less than or equal to about 4.25, or less         than or equal to about 4.     -   Aspect 6. The catalyst defined in any one of the preceding         aspects, wherein the supported chromium catalyst comprises (from         0 wt. %, from about 0.5 wt. %, from about 1 wt. %, or from about         2 wt. % to) to less than or equal to about 75 wt. %, less than         or equal to about 50 wt. %, less than or equal to about 40 wt.         %, or less than or equal to about 30 wt. % of chromium (VI),         based on the total amount of chromium.     -   Aspect 7. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the solid support comprises any suitable solid oxide or         any solid oxide disclosed herein, e.g., silica, alumina,         silica-alumina, silica-coated alumina, aluminum phosphate,         aluminophosphate, heteropolytungstate, titania, zirconia,         magnesia, boria, zinc oxide, silica-titania, silica-zirconia,         alumina-titania, alumina-zirconia, zinc-aluminate,         alumina-boria, alumina borate, silica-boria,         aluminophosphate-silica, titania-zirconia, or any combination         thereof.     -   Aspect 8. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the solid support comprises silica, silica-alumina,         silica-coated alumina, silica-titania, silica-titania-magnesia,         silica-zirconia, silica-magnesia, silica-boria,         aluminophosphate-silica, alumina, alumina borate, or any         combination thereof.     -   Aspect 9. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the solid support comprises a chemically-treated solid         oxide comprising a solid oxide (e.g., as in aspect 7 or 8)         treated with an electron-withdrawing anion.     -   Aspect 10. The catalyst defined in aspect 9, wherein the         electron-withdrawing anion comprises sulfate, bisulfate,         fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate,         fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate,         triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, phospho-tungstate,         tungstate, molybdate, or any combination thereof     -   Aspect 11. The catalyst defined in aspect 9 or 10, wherein the         chemically-treated solid oxide contains from about 1 to about 30         wt. %, from about 2 to about 20 wt. %, from about 2 to about 15         wt. %, from about 3 to about 12 wt. %, or from 4 to 10 wt. %, of         the electron-withdrawing anion, based on the total weight of the         chemically-treated solid oxide.     -   Aspect 12. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the solid support comprises a chemically-treated solid         oxide comprising fluorided alumina, chlorided alumina, bromided         alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, chlorided         silica-alumina, bromided silica-alumina, sulfated         silica-alumina, fluorided silica-zirconia, chlorided         silica-zirconia, bromided silica-zirconia, sulfated         silica-zirconia, fluorided silica-titania, fluorided         silica-coated alumina, fluorided-chlorided silica-coated         alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, phosphated         silica-coated alumina, or any combination thereof.     -   Aspect 13. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the catalyst comprises chromium/silica,         chromium/silica-titania, chromium/silica-titania-magnesia,         chromium/silica-alumina, chromium/silica-coated alumina,         chromium/aluminophosphate, chromium/alumina, chromium/alumina         borate, or any combination thereof.     -   Aspect 14. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the catalyst comprises chromium/silica-titania, and the         supported catalyst comprises any suitable amount of titanium or         an amount in any range disclosed herein, e.g., from about 0.1 to         about 20 wt. %, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt. %, from about 1         to about 10 wt. %, or from about 1 to about 6 wt. %, based on         the weight of the catalyst.     -   Aspect 15. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the catalyst comprises chromium/sulfated alumina,         chromium/fluorided alumina, chromium/fluorided silica-alumina,         chromium/fluorided silica-coated alumina, or any combination         thereof.     -   Aspect 16. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-6,         wherein the catalyst comprises a chromium supported zeolite.     -   Aspect 17. The catalyst defined in aspect 16, wherein the solid         support comprises a medium pore zeolite, a large pore zeolite,         or a combination thereof.     -   Aspect 18. The catalyst defined in aspect 16, wherein the solid         support comprises a ZSM-5 zeolite, a ZSM-11 zeolite, a EU-1         zeolite, a ZSM-23 zeolite, a ZSM-57 zeolite, an ALPO4-11         zeolite, an ALPO4-41 zeolite, a Ferrierite framework type         zeolite, or a combination thereof.     -   Aspect 19. The catalyst defined in aspect 16, wherein the solid         support comprises an L-zeolite, a Y-zeolite, a mordenite, an         omega zeolite, and/or a beta zeolite.     -   Aspect 20. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 16-19,         wherein the solid support comprises a zeolite and any suitable         amount of binder or an amount in any range disclosed herein,         e.g., from about 3 wt. % to about 35 wt. %, or from about 5 wt.         % to about 30 wt. % binder, based on the weight of the catalyst.     -   Aspect 21. The catalyst defined in any one of the preceding         aspects, wherein the catalyst has any suitable pore volume         (total) or a pore volume (total) in any range disclosed herein,         e.g., from about 0.1 to about 5 mL/g, from about 0.15 to about 5         mL/g, from about 0.1 to about 3 mL/g, or from about 0.15 to         about 2 mL/g.     -   Aspect 22. The catalyst defined in any one of the preceding         aspects, wherein the catalyst has any suitable BET surface area         or a BET surface area in any range disclosed herein, e.g., from         about 50 to about 2000 m²/g, from about 50 to about 700 m²/g,         from about 50 to about 400 m²/g, from about 100 to about 1200         m²/g, or from about 150 to about 525 m²/g.     -   Aspect 23. The catalyst defined in any one of the preceding         aspects, wherein the catalyst has any suitable average (d50)         particle size or an average (d50) particle size in any range         disclosed herein, e.g., from about 10 to about 500 microns, from         about 25 to about 250 microns, or from about 20 to about 100         microns.     -   Aspect 24. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is a saturated or unsaturated,         linear or branched, aliphatic hydrocarbon group.     -   Aspect 25. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is an aromatic group.     -   Aspect 26. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is a linear alkane group, a         branched alkane group, or a cyclic alkane group.     -   Aspect 27. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein an alkoxy group is bonded to the chromium.     -   Aspect 28. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein an aryloxy group is bonded to the chromium.     -   Aspect 29. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is any suitable carbon number         hydrocarbon group or any carbon number hydrocarbon group         disclosed herein, e.g., a C₁ to C₃₆ hydrocarbon group, a C₁ to         C₁₈ hydrocarbon group, a C₁ to C₁₂ hydrocarbon group, or a C₁ to         C₈ hydrocarbon group.     -   Aspect 30. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is a methane group, an ethane         group, a propane group, a butane (e.g., n-butane or isobutane)         group, a pentane (e.g., n-pentane, neopentane, or isopentane)         group, a hexane group, a heptane group, an octane group, a         nonane group, a decane group, an undecane group, a dodecane         group, a tridecane group, a tetradecane group, a pentadecane         group, a hexadecane group, a heptadecane group, or an octadecane         group.     -   Aspect 31. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is a methane group, an ethane         group, a propane group, a n-butane group, an isobutane group, a         n-pentane group, a neopentane group, an isopentane group, a         n-hexane group, a n-heptane group, a n-octane group, a n-decane         group, or a n-dodecane group.     -   Aspect 32. The catalyst defined in any one of aspects 1-23,         wherein the hydrocarbon group is a benzene group, a toluene         group, an ethylbenzene group, a xylene group, or a mesitylene         group.     -   Aspect 33. An ethylene polymer having (or characterized by):     -   a Mw in a range from about 100,000 to about 400,000 g/mol;     -   at least about 2 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular weight         greater than 1,000,000 g/mol; and     -   at least about 1.5 wt. % of the polymer having a molecular         weight less than 1000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 34. The polymer defined in aspect 33, wherein the         ethylene polymer has a Mn in any range disclosed herein, e.g.,         from about 3,000 to about 10,000 g/mol, from about 4,000 to         about 9,000 g/mol, from about 4,000 to about 8,000 g/mol, from         about 4,000 to about 7,000 g/mol, or from about 5,000 to about         6,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 35. The polymer defined in aspect 33 or 34, wherein the         ethylene polymer has a Mw in any range disclosed herein, e.g.,         from about 100,000 to about 300,000 g/mol, from about 150,000 to         about 400,000 g/mol, from about 200,000 to about 400,000 g/mol,         or from about 200,000 to about 300,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 36. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-35,         wherein the ethylene polymer has a Mz in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 1,500,000 to about 4,000,000 g/mol,         from about 2,000,000 to about 3,500,000 g/mol, or from about         2,000,000 to about 3,000,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 37. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-36,         wherein the ethylene polymer has a Mp in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 10,000 to about 60,000 g/mol, from         about 10,000 to about 50,000 g/mol, from about 10,000 to about         40,000 g/mol, or from about 15,000 to about 30,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 38. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-37,         wherein the ethylene polymer has a ratio of Mw/Mn in any range         disclosed herein, e.g., from about 30 to about 80, from about 35         to about 75, from about 35 to about 60, from about 40 to about         55, or from about 45 to about 50     -   Aspect 39. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-38,         wherein the ethylene polymer has a ratio of Mz/Mw in any range         disclosed herein, e.g., from about 6 to about 13, from about 8         to about 11, from about 8.5 to about 10.5, or from about 9 to         about 10.     -   Aspect 40. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-39,         wherein an amount of the ethylene polymer in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 2 to about 10 wt. %, from about 3 to         about 10 wt. %, from about 4 to about 9 wt. %, from about 5 to         about 9 wt. %, or from about 5 to about 8 wt. %, has a molecular         weight greater than 1,000,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 41. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-40,         wherein an amount of the ethylene polymer in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 1.5 to about 8 wt. %, from about 2 to         about 7 wt. %, from about 3 to about 6 wt. %, from about 3.5 to         about 5 wt. %, or from about 4 to about 4.5 wt. %, has a         molecular weight less than 1000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 42. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-41,         wherein an amount of the ethylene polymer in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 8 to about 20 wt. %, from about 10 to         about 20 wt. %, from about 12 to about 18 wt. %, from about 13         to about 17 wt. %, or from about 14 to about 16 wt. %, has a         molecular weight less than 3162 g/mol.     -   Aspect 43. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-42,         wherein an amount of the ethylene polymer in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 53 to about 73 wt. %, from about 55 to         about 70 wt. %, from about 58 to about 68 wt. %, or from about         61 to about 65 wt. %, has a molecular weight in the 10,000 to         1,000,000 g/mol range.     -   Aspect 44. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 33-43,         wherein the ethylene polymer has a highest molecular weight         detected in any range disclosed herein, e.g., at least about         5,000,000 g/mol, at least about 6,000,000 g/mol, at least about         7,000,000 g/mol, or at least about 8,000,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 45. An ethylene homopolymer having (or characterized by):     -   a number of methyl short chain branches (SCB's) in a range from         about 3.5 to about 15 per 1000 total carbon atoms;     -   a number of butyl short chain branches (SCB's) of less than or         equal to about 0.6 per 1000 total carbon atoms; and     -   a ratio of Mw/Mn in a range from about 4 to about 10.     -   Aspect 46. The homopolymer defined in aspect 45, wherein the         number of methyl SCB's is in any range disclosed herein, e.g.,         from about 3.5 to about 12, from about 3.5 to about 10.5, from         about 4 to about 12, from about 4 to about 10, from about 4.5 to         about 10, or from about 5 to about 10 methyl SCB's per 1000         total carbon atoms.     -   Aspect 47. The homopolymer defined in aspect 45 or 46, wherein         the number of butyl SCB's is in any range disclosed herein,         e.g., less than or equal to about 0.5, less than or equal to         about 0.4, less than or equal to about 0.3, or less than or         equal to about 0.2 butyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon atoms.     -   Aspect 48. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-47,         wherein the ratio of Mw/Mn is in any range disclosed herein,         e.g., from about 4 to about 9, from about 4 to about 8.5, from         about 4 to about 8, from about 4.5 to about 10, from about 4.5         to about 8.5, or from about 5 to about 9.     -   Aspect 49. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-48,         wherein the homopolymer has a ratio of Mz/Mw in any range         disclosed herein, e.g., from about 2.5 to about 7, from about         2.5 to about 6, from about 3 to about 7, or from about 3 to         about 6.     -   Aspect 50. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-49,         wherein the homopolymer has a Mw in any range disclosed herein,         e.g., from about 30,000 to about 200,000 g/mol, from about         30,000 to about 140,000 g/mol, from about 35,000 to about         150,000 g/mol, or from about 40,000 to about 135,000 g/mol.     -   Aspect 51. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-50,         wherein the homopolymer has ratio of vinyl chain ends to         saturated chain ends (vinyl/saturated) per 1000 total carbon         atoms in any range disclosed herein, e.g., less than or equal to         about 1, less than or equal to about 0.5, less than or equal to         about 0.3, or less than or equal to about 0.1.     -   Aspect 52. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-51,         wherein the homopolymer has a number of ethyl SCB's is in any         range disclosed herein, e.g., from about 0.8 to about 5, from         about 1 to about 5, from about 0.8 to about 4, from about 1 to         about 4, from about 0.8 to about 3.5, from about 1 to about 3.5,         or from about 1.5 to about 3.5 ethyl SCB's per 1000 total carbon         atoms.     -   Aspect 53. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-52,         wherein the homopolymer has a density in any range disclosed         herein, e.g., from about 0.93 to about 0.96 g/cm³, from about         0.93 to about 0.955 g/cm³, from about 0.935 to about 0.955         g/cm³, from about 0.935 to about 0.950 g/cm³, or from about         0.938 to about 0.948 g/cm³.     -   Aspect 54. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-53,         wherein the homopolymer contains, independently, less than 0.1         ppm (by weight), less than 0.08 ppm, less than 0.05 ppm, or less         than 0.03 ppm, of nickel and iron.     -   Aspect 55. The homopolymer defined in any one of aspects 45-54,         wherein the homopolymer contains, independently, less than 0.1         ppm (by weight), less than 0.08 ppm, less than 0.05 ppm, or less         than 0.03 ppm, of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium.     -   Aspect 56. An ethylene polymer comprising:     -   a terminal branched alkane group;     -   a terminal cyclic alkane group;     -   a terminal aromatic group; or a terminal halogenated hydrocarbon         group.     -   Aspect 57. The polymer defined in aspect 56, wherein the         ethylene polymer comprises an ethylene homopolymer.     -   Aspect 58. The polymer defined in aspect 56, wherein the         ethylene polymer comprises an ethylene/α-olefin copolymer.     -   Aspect 59. The polymer defined in aspect 56, wherein the         ethylene polymer comprises an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an         ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and/or an ethylene/1-octene         copolymer.     -   Aspect 60. The polymer defined in aspect 56, wherein the         ethylene polymer comprises an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer.     -   Aspect 61. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 56-60,         wherein the branched alkane group is any carbon number branched         alkane group disclosed herein, e.g., a C₄ to C₃₆ branched alkane         group, a C₄ to C₁₈ branched alkane group, a C₁₀ to C₃₆ branched         alkane group, or a C₁₀ to C₃₆ branched alkane group.     -   Aspect 62. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 56-60,         wherein the cyclic alkane group is any carbon number cyclic         alkane group disclosed herein, e.g., a C₄ to C₃₆ cyclic alkane         group, a C₄ to C₁₈ cyclic alkane group, a C₆ to C₁₈ cyclic         alkane group, or a C₆ to C₁₀ cyclic alkane group.     -   Aspect 63. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 56-60,         wherein the aromatic group is a benzene group, a toluene group,         an ethylbenzene group, a xylene group, or a mesitylene group.     -   Aspect 64. The polymer defined in any one of aspects 56-60,         wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon group is any carbon number         halogenated hydrocarbon group disclosed herein, e.g., a C₁ to         C₃₆ halogenated hydrocarbon group, a C₁ to C₁₈ halogenated         hydrocarbon group, a C₁ to C₁₂ halogenated hydrocarbon group, or         a C₁ to C₈ halogenated hydrocarbon group.     -   Aspect 65. An article comprising the polymer defined in any one         of aspects 33-64. 

We claim:
 1. An ethylene polymer comprising: a terminal branched alkane group; a terminal cyclic alkane group; a terminal aromatic group; or a terminal halogenated hydrocarbon group.
 2. The ethylene polymer of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises the terminal branched alkane group, and the branched alkane group is a C₄ to C₃₆ branched alkane group.
 3. The ethylene polymer of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises the terminal cyclic alkane group, and the cyclic alkane group is a C₄ to C₃₆ cyclic alkane group.
 4. The ethylene polymer of claim 1, wherein: the polymer comprises the terminal aromatic group, and the aromatic group is a benzene group, a toluene group, an ethylbenzene group, a xylene group, or a mesitylene group; and the polymer comprises an ethylene homopolymer, an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and/or an ethylene/1-octene copolymer.
 5. The ethylene polymer of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises the terminal halogenated hydrocarbon group, and the halogenated hydrocarbon group is a C₁ to C₃₆ halogenated hydrocarbon group.
 6. An article comprising the polymer of claim
 2. 7. The ethylene polymer of claim 2, wherein the branched alkane group is a C₄ to C₁₈ branched alkane group.
 8. The ethylene polymer of claim 7, wherein the polymer comprises an ethylene homopolymer, an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and/or an ethylene/l-octene copolymer.
 9. The ethylene polymer of claim 8, wherein the branched alkane group is a neopentane group, an iso-pentane group, or an iso-octane group.
 10. An article comprising the polymer of claim
 3. 11. The ethylene polymer of claim 3, wherein the cyclic alkane group is a C₄ to C₁₈ cyclic alkane group.
 12. The ethylene polymer of claim 11, wherein the polymer comprises an ethylene homopolymer, an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and/or an ethylene/l-octene copolymer.
 13. The ethylene polymer of claim 12, wherein the cyclic alkane group is a cyclobutane group, a cyclopentane group, a cyclohexane group, or a cyclooctane group.
 14. An article comprising the polymer of claim
 4. 15. The ethylene polymer of claim 4, wherein the terminal aromatic group comprises the benzene group, the toluene group, or the xylene group.
 16. The ethylene polymer of claim 4, wherein the terminal aromatic group comprises the toluene group.
 17. An article comprising the polymer of claim
 5. 18. The ethylene polymer of claim 5, wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon group is a C₁ to C₈ halogenated hydrocarbon group.
 19. The ethylene polymer of claim 18, wherein the polymer comprises an ethylene homopolymer, an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and/or an ethylene/l-octene copolymer.
 20. The ethylene polymer of claim 19, wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon group is a tetrafluoroethane group. 